Development of Resorbible Composites Based on Chitosan Fibers for Bone Grafting
摘要
A method for producing composite materials for cranioplasty based on polylactide and poly-ε-caprolactone, which contain chitosan threads as a reinforcing filler, is described. Chitosan threads are obtained via wet spinning by precipitating acetic acid solutions of chitosan in an alcohol-alkaline medium. The melting temperatures of polylactide and poly-ε-caprolactone are significantly lower than the degradation temperature of chitosan, which makes it possible to obtain composite materials using heat-treatment methods, e.g., calendering and pressing. The composite material based on polylactide has strength and elastic characteristics close to those of cancellous bone tissue, and the composite based on poly-ε-caprolactone has those of cortical bone. This allows us to recommend the obtained composite materials for preclinical and clinical studies as bone-tissue implants, in pediatric cranioplasty for the treatment of injuries and diseases of the skull bones.