Fabrication of Cellulose Acetate/Cellulose-HA Composite Films for Bone Fixation

Abstract

Bone is a rigid and constantly remodeling organ, a type of tissue which provides support and protects organs in the body, and together they form the skeleton [1]. Materials generally used for implants bear tissue rejection and produce toxins on degradation [2]. Our objective is to synthesize a biocompatible composite of Hydroxyapatite (HA) and Cellulose using Cellulose Acetate as a matrix which mimics the properties of natural bone that can be used for bone replacements. Bone is composed of calcium phosphate (HA) and collagen, which gives bone desired properties [3]. Hydroxyapatite is the inorganic mineral found in the bone and is preferred due to its mechanical properties, biocompatibility, slow degradation in physiological environment and bioactivity [4]. Cellulose, structural component in plants is similar in properties to collagen therefore the properties of cellulose [4], HA and cellulose acetate are exploited to achieve our results. The experimental procedure is divided into two major steps; extraction of cellulose microfibers (CMF) from cotton followed by dispersion of cellulose and HA in cellulose acetate then casting membranes of the composite.