Highly mineralized chitosan-based material with large size, gradient mineral distribution and hierarchical structure. (15th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pei, Boying; Wang, Zhengke; Nie, Jingyi; Hu, Qiaoling
• Is Part Of: Carbohydrate polymers. Volume 208(2019)
• Page Start: 336
• Page End: 344
• Publication Date: 2019-03-15
• Subjects: Chitosan -- Mineralization -- Hierarchical structure -- Hybrid materials; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 547.78
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.12.087
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-8617

Abstract

Highlights: Highly mineralized chitosan-based material was successfully achieved by the assistance of urea. Mineralization occurs along with gelation simultaneously by in situ precipitation. Large size chitosan directed mineralized material with controllable gradient mineral distribution was fast fabricated within several hours. Abstract: Nature materials constituted with organic and inorganic components have hierarchical structure and superior performance. Although a variety of techniques have been developed to mimic microstructure and properties of natural mineralized materials, facile and rapid fabrication of large-size bulk materials with high calcium content under ambient conditions still remains a major challenge. Here, we present a feasible and versatile route to a highly mineralized material with an in situ preparation method where gelation and mineralization occur simultaneously. Meanwhile, hierarchically ordered hydrogel microstructures are formed during the gelation, and controllable inorganic gradient distribution forms along with mineralization spontaneously. With the achievement of high mineral content by the assistance of urea, this fabrication route is facile and efficient, only taking several hours to complete the gelation and mineralization, and large-scale materials are prepared readily. This chitosan matrix-directed mineralization represents a rational and promising strategy for fast fabrication of highly mineralized material with hierarchical structure on a large scale, and the chitosan-based mineralized material has great potential for applications in bone repairing and tissue engineering.