Preparation and characterization of HDPE/chitosan composites for bone replacement applications

A study carried out in the Netherlands has reported that the mean rates of infections related to surgery that involves implants are in the range of 1.5% in the case of total knee implantation and 6.8% for femur head replacement, where polyethylene is widely used as cotyle. Such infections result in disease for the patient and prolongation of hospital stay, then increasing cost of care. Chitosan is the second most abundant polysaccharide found in nature after cellulose and it is the most promising bio-based polymer for tissue engineering. Chitosan is nontoxic and shows biocompatibility and antimicrobial properties. In view of preventing the disease arising from infections, this work investigates the study of HDPE composites containing chitosan in different shapes and compositions. The HDPE composites have been prepared by melt extrusion with the aim to achieve materials with good mechanical properties and antimicrobial activity for bone replacement applications. Their thermal behavior has been investigated by means of Thermogravimetric and Differential Scanning Calorimetry analyses. Dynamic-Mechanical Analysis and Scanning Electron Microscopy have provided information about mechanical behavior of the composites and the distribution of the filler within the polymer matrix, respectively.