Recently, biopolymer-based nanocomposites have been replacing synthetic polymer composites for various biomedical applications. This is often because of the biocompatible and biodegradable behavior of natural polymers. Several studies have been reported pertaining to the synthesis and characterization of chitosan(chi)/montmorillonite(MMT) and chitosan (chi)/hydroxyapatite (HAP) for tissue engineering applications. In the present work, a biopolymer-based novel nanocomposite chitosan/montmorillonite (MMT)/hydroxyapatite (HAP) was developed for biomedical applications. The composite was prepared from chitosan, unmodified MMT and HAP precipitate in aqueous media. The properties of the composites were investigated using x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Nanomechanical properties were measured using nanoindentation. Cell culture experiments were also conducted in order to ascertain the biocompatibility of the composite. The XRD results indicate that an intercalated structure was formed with an increase in d-spacing of montmorillonite. FTIR studies provide the evidence of molecular interaction among the three different constituents of the composite. AFM images show well-distributed nanoparticles in the chitosan matrix. The composites also exhibit a significant enhancement in nanomechanical property as compared to pure chitosan as well as the chi/HAP and chi/MMT composites. The TGA results indicate that an intercalated nanocomposite was formed with improved thermal properties even compared to chi/MMT composites. The results of cell culture experiments show that the composite is biocompatible and has a better cell proliferation rate compared to chi/HAP composites. This work represents the design of a novel clay-chitosan-hydroxyapatite composite with improved mechanical properties that has potential applications in bone tissue engineering.

Nacre, the inner layer of mollusk shells is a composite made of platelets of mineral aragonitic calcium carbonate with a few weight percent organic material sandwiched in between. The organic and nanostructural nuances are often suggested to be the reason for the extreme toughness of nacre. Here we report the presence of interlocks between platelets of nacre from red abalone. We also report and show, using three-dimensional finite element modeling, that interlocks are the key mechanism for the high toughness and strength of nacre. The observed rotation between platelet layers, which were earlier reported as defects of structure, are necessary for the formation of interlocks.

No abstract

Nanoclay modified with unnatural amino acid was used to design a nanoclay-hydroxyapatite (HAP) hybrid by mineralizing HAP in the nanoclay galleries mimicking biomineralization. This hybrid (in situ HAPclay) was used to fabricate polycaprolactone (PCL)/in situ HAPclay films and scaffolds for bone regeneration. Cell culture assays and imaging were used to study interactions between human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and PCL/in situ HAPclay composites (films and scaffolds). SEM imaging indicated MSC attachment, formation of mineralized extracellular (ECM) on PCL/in situ HAPclay films, and infiltration of MSCs to the interior of PCL/in situ HAPclay scaffolds. Mineralized ECM was formed by MSCs without use of osteogenic supplements. AFM imaging performed on this in vitro generated mineralized ECM on PCL/in situ HAPclay films revealed presence of components (collagen and mineral) of hierarchical organization reminiscent of natural bone. Cellular events observed during two-stage seeding experiments on PCL/in situ HAPclay films indicated similarities with events occurring during in vivo bone formation. PCL/in situ HAPclay films showed significantly increased (100-595% increase in elastic moduli) nanomechanical properties and PCL/in situ HAPclay scaffolds showed increased degradation. This work puts forth PCL/in situ HAPclay composites as viable biomaterials for bone tissue engineering.

No abstract