Development and characterization of fast-hardening composite cements composed of natural ceramics originated from horse bones and chitosan solution.

Abstract

Calcium phosphate cements are highly promising for craniofacial and orthopedic repairs owing to rapidsetting and bone replacement capabilities. However, uses for tissue engineering are limited by poor strength. The objectives of this study were to develop fast-hardening composite cements composed of natural ceramics originated from horse bones and chitosan solution (CS), one of the bio-resources, and to pinpoint the effects of hardening time, mechanical strengths, cell adhesion, cell growth. The morphology and topography of newly formed bone were evaluated by computed topography (CT) and histological analysis. Natural ceramics derived from horse bones were performed to go through their analysis by a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy dispersive Xray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR). The Ca/P molar ratio of the ceramics was measured 1.62. Functional groups examined by FTIR detected phosphate (PO4 3−), hydroxyl (OH−), and carbonate (CO3 2−). A hardening time of 3.5% (w/v) CS treatment was 23±0.60 min. Compressive strength as mixing nano-ceramics increased from 2.75±0.31 to 9.25±0.66 MPa, and Young’s modulus as mixing nano-ceramics also raised from 18.64±2.29 to 41.54±9.63MPa. Based upon the results of CT images and Heamotoxylin and Eosin (H&E) analysis, new bone tissues were well generated at the implanted site: a 50:50 ratio (%) of micro- and nano-ceramics. Self-hardening calcium phosphate composite cements fabricated using natural ceramics originated from horse bones and CS exhibited a great potential for fast-hardening time, mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and tissue regeneration. Applications of the natural ceramics fabricated from by-products of bio-resources moreover may be useful in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.