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Biological fixation of fibrous materials to bone using chitin/chitosan as a bone formation accelerator
Author(s) -
Kawai Tomoyuki,
Yamada Takeki,
Yasukawa Akio,
Koyama Yoshihisa,
Muneta Takeshi,
Takakuda Kazuo
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part b: applied biomaterials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.665
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1552-4981
pISSN - 1552-4973
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.b.31177
Subject(s) - chitin , materials science , chitosan , fixation (population genetics) , polyester , biomedical engineering , coating , artificial bone , composite material , chemical engineering , medicine , population , environmental health , engineering
Biological fixation or anchorage of fibrous materials to bone by bone ingrowth into the spaces between fibers is a major concern in developing novel medical implants, including artificial ligaments. Toward this end, we evaluated the efficacy of chitin/chitosan as a bone formation accelerator. Specimens of polyester nonwoven fabric coated with chitin/chitosan were implanted into holes drilled into the distal ends of rat femora. Uncoated fabric specimens were used as controls. At 1 or 2 weeks after implantation, the specimens were retrieved, and the fixation strength was measured by mechanical testing. Histological sections of 2‐week implantation specimens were prepared, and the area of new bone tissue formed in the spaces between the fibers of the fabric was measured. The chitin/chitosan coating significantly increased the fixation strength and the area of bone tissue formed in the spaces between the fibers. The mean fixation strength of chitin/chitosan‐coated fabric specimens was more than twice that of the controls at 2 weeks after implantation. These results demonstrated that the chitin/chitosan coating effectively induced bone formation in the spaces between the fibers and enhanced biological fixation of the fibrous materials to the bone. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009