Novel Chitosan/Polyethylene Glycol/Bioactive glass Nanocomposite membrane for Guided Tissue/Bone Regeneration

Abstract

The aim of this work was to produce a novel guided tissue/bone (GTR/GBR) regeneration membrane. To reach this aim, nanocomposite membranes were synthesized by combination of chitosan (CHT), poly ethylene glycol (PEG), and 45S bioactive glass nanoparticles (BG-NPs) (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3 wt) by the solvent casting method. BG-NPs were synthesized by sol-gel technique, and then characterized by using Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Xray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Nanocomposite membranes were characterized in terms of FTIR, in mechanical tests, in in-vitro biodegradation test and biological tests. BG-NPs characterization results showed the amorphous structure and nano size scale of glass. FTIR demonstrated a proper interaction between the CHT and BG-NPs. SEM image showed good distribution of BG-NPs in chitosan matrix and porous structure that may facilitate cell adhesion. CHT/PEG membranes containing 2 wt BG-NPs illustrated the highest elastic modulus among the samples prepared. However, raising BG-NPs amount in the nanocomposites depicted a decline in the elongation at break and tensile strength of the samples. According to the results of mechanical tests, the optimum CHT/PEG/2wt BG-NPs nanocomposite was selected for biodegradation test by immersing the specimens in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) for 30 days. The biodegradation rate was considerably increased by adding BG-NPs to the matrix. Cytotoxicity test was carried out using human fibroblasts cells. CHT/PEG/2wt BG-NPs nanocomposite membrane showed no cytotoxicity and it promoted more alkaline phosphatase (ALP) secretion than CHT/PEG membrane. The results demonstrated that CHT/PEG/2wt BG-NPs nanocomposite membrane could be used as a good candidate for GTR/GBR regeneration.