Polymeric biocomposite material production from naturally isolated bioceramics via electrospinning method

Ceramics such as Hydroxyapatite (HA) or β-Tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), forming the inorganic part of the composites are widely used in biomedical implant applications and bone regeneration due to their chemical similarity to the chemical structure of bone, their bioactivity and biodegradability. In the present study, Lettered olive, Pinna nobilis and egg shells were used as Ca sources. A thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) method was applied to determine the amount of CaCO3 in the compositions of these shells. Higly biocompatible nanobioceramic structures were produced by an easy and economic chemical precipitation metod. The crystalline structures of bioceramic powder were elucidated by XRD analysis. Nanobiocomposites were produced via electrospinning method by reinforcing the obtained bioceramic powder with polycaprolactone (PCL), polylactic acid (PLA) and polyurethane (PU) biocompatible polymeric matrices. When the surface morphology of different type biocomposites, obtained by reinforcing bioceramic with PCL, PLA and PU polymeric matrices, were examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The fiber diameters were identified to be in the range of 20-250 nm. The chemical structure of materials have been elucidated by FT-IR and the presence of functional groups in the composition have been investigated. Corresponding peaks for PCL, PLA, PU and bioceramic structures of different type biocomposite nonwoven surfaces were identified. Mechanical tests were performed on the biocomposites that are produced by electrospinning method and 348,50 MPa value was recorded as the result of tensile tests. It is revealed that this is the highest value ever obtained for the similair biomaterials in the literature. These materials can find applications where mechanical strength are required. Moreover biocomposites exhibited enhanced antimicrobial property owing to the regular nano structures. On the bases of study results, ıt can be stated that the obtained materials have potential properties that can be utilized in several applications particularly in tissue and biomedical engineering. Key Words: Hydroxyapatite, Chemical Precipitation, Electrospinning, Biocomposite, Policaprolactone, Polylactic acid, Polyurethane, Tissue Engineering