Inorganic-organic polymer hybrid scaffold for tissue engineering - II: Partial enzymatic degradation of hydroxyapatite-chitosan hybrid

Abstract

This article describes the preparation of porous chitosan, a hydroxyapatite hybrid, by partial enzymatic degradation. Two enzymes, chitosanase and lysozyme, were selected to hydrolyze a chitosan-reinforced matrix and create pores within the chitosan-hydroxyapatite composite. The degree of enzymatic hydrolysis of the chitosan-hydroxyapatite composite was determined by measuring the % weight loss of the chitosan matrix and the hydroxyapatite component. Hydroxyapatite loss from the chitosan matrix increased with the degree of enzymatic hydrolysis of the chitosanreinforced matrix. After hydrolysis, the composite was further characterized by FTIR. Quantitative analysis revealed a decrease in the characteristic pyranose ring peak (1072 cm-1), compared with PO^2- ₄ (1110 cm^-1), showing that the chitosan matrices were enzymatically hydrolyzed. The surface 4 of the porous chitosan-hydroxyapatite composite, prepared by controlling enzymatic hydrolysis, was also observed by SEM.

Keywords:

• CHITOSAN-HYDROXYAPATITE COMPOSITE
• CHITOSANASE
• LYSOZYME
• ENZYMATIC DEGRADATION