Hydrolysis of monetite/chitosan composites in α-MEM and SBF solutions.

There are two objectives of this work. The first objective is to study the hydrolysis behavior of monetite cements formed in the presence and absence of the chitosan in cell culture media (α-MEM) and simulated body fluid (SBF) solutions at 37°C. During hydrolysis, monetite transformed to carbonated apatite. Therefore, the second objective is to examine how addition of chitosan affects on the formation of carbonated apatite phases. The changes in the phase structure of monetite after hydrolysis reactions were characterized using XRD, FTIR and SEM. Pure monetite and monetite/chitosan composite were soaked in α-MEM and SBF solution for 4 and 7 days. In α-MEM solution, the monetite particles started to transform into carbonated apatite with a slow rate. However, in SBF, the rate of monetite transformation to carbonated apatite was more rapid. The presence of the chitosan had no significant effect on the precipitation of carbonated apatite on the monetite particles.