Biocompatibility of a Novel Biactive Polymer-apatite Nanocomposite

INTRODUCTION It is proposed that to satisfy a growing percentage of the population that requires greater than thirty-year survivability of load-bearing bone replacement devices [1], a concept shift, from emphasis on replacement of tissues to regeneration of tissues, is required [2]. Based on the bioactivity of hydroxyapatite (HA) and the excellent mechanical and biocompatible performance of Polyethylene teraphthalate (PET), a composite of PET filled with nanograde HA was designed and fabricated to mimic the structure of biological bone which exhibits a composite of nanograde apatite crystals and natural polymer. The PET/HA nanocomposite was fabricated by compounding, and spun into fiber form so that the mechanical properties of a given structure can be custom tailored by changing the final 3D orientation of the fibers.