Physico-mechanical properties of Mg and Ag doped hydroxyapatite/chitosan biocomposites

Nano-hydroxyapatite/chitosan (nano-HAP/CS) composites with high compressive strength were synthesized using microwave assisted co-precipitation. Co-Doping using Mg2+ and Ag+ was carried out simultaneously in HAP resulting in the formula: [MgxAgyCa(10−x−y)(PO4)6(OH2); 0 ≤ (x + y) ≤ 1]. The samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The results illustrated that the shape, size and crystallinity index of the prepared nano-HAP crystals were similar to those of natural bone. Doping by Ag+ was performed to produce an anti-bacterial effect, while Mg2+ dopant appeared to be a crucial factor in improving the mechanical properties. Furthermore, mechanical testing exhibited that the maximum compressive strength of the new composite was 15 MPa. The multifunctional non-sintered materials showed promising results in drug loaded bioceramics with improved mechanical features in bone tissue engineering.