Chitosan-Hydroxyapatite Composite Membranes Reinforced with Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes for Advancing Guided Bone Regeneration

Abstract

Dental implant failure, often due to bone resorption and poor osteointegration, can be mitigated using barrier membranes to prevent non-osteogenic tissue interference during bone healing. In addition to the existing barrier membranes, guided bone regeneration has opened new avenues for membrane design, allowing them to actively participate in bone regeneration rather than merely serving as barriers. In this context, the aim of this study was to fabricate a composite membrane that can mimic the native extracellular matrix of the native tissue. The novel composite membranes containing chitosan, hydroxyapatite (5 %), and multiwall carbon nanotubes (0.5 to 2 % ) were created using the solvent casting method. The composite membranes were assessed for morphology, structure, thermal, and mechanical properties. The non-porous surfaces with uniformly dispersed particles in membranes showed that adding 0.5 % functionalized MWCNTs enhanced tensile strength (5.25 MPa to 17.84 MPa) and Young's modulus (66.89 MPa to 747.02 MPa) but reduced thermal stability. The membranes maintained slightly alkaline pH without toxic leachates and demonstrated over 50 % cell viability, suggesting their potential for guided bone regeneration in dental applications.

Keywords: Chitosan; guided bone regeneration; hydroxyapatite; multiwall carbon nanotubes.