Synthesis and characterization of calcium phosphate/collagen biocomposites doped with Zn2+

Composites were developed using calcium phosphate (CaP)/collagen (COL) doped with Zn+2 to attempt the materials association with adequate properties for biological applications in the recovery of the bone tissue by trauma or pathogenies. Hydroxyapatite (HAP) and hydroxyapatite-βtricalcium phosphate (HAPβTCP) were synthesized and doped with zinc nitrate. High purity grade type I collagen was extracted and purified from bovine pericardium. CaP doped and undoped with Zn+2 were produced with COL and the composites were developed using a simple mixture process. All samples were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD. In addition, biocompatibility and cell viability were assessed by MTT assay (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) using osteoblast cell culture. The results have indicated that both morphological and structural features and chemical composition of the composites were very similar to their precursors, collagen and calcium phosphate components. Also, the biocomposites presented a homogeneous aspect with the calcium phosphate particles aggregated to the collagen fibers. The biological evaluation of the composites in vitro showed cellular viability, presenting proliferation of the osteoblasts compared to the control cells (P < 0.05). The composites showed appropriate physical and biological properties creating more biologically active scaffolds that may support bone growth. Therefore, the novel developed biocomposites have high potential to be used for rebuilding small lesions in bone tissue engineering.