Development and Characterization of Calcium Based Biocomposites Using Waste Material (Calcite Stones) for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Calcium-based biocomposite materials have a pivotal role in the biomedical field with their diverse properties and applications in combating challenging medical problems. The study states the development and characterization of Calcium-based biocomposites: Hydroxyapatite (HAP), and PVA-Gelatin-HAP films. For the preparation of Calcium-based biocomposites, an unconventional source, the waste material calcite stone, was used as calcium raw material, and by the process of calcination, calcium oxide was synthesized. From calcium oxide, HAP was prepared by chemical precipitation method, which was later added in different proportions to PVA-Gelatin solution and finally dried to form biocomposite films. Then the different properties of PVA/Gelatin/HAP composite, for instance, chemical, mechanical, thermal, and swelling properties due to the incorporation of various proportions of HAP in PVA-Gelatin solution, were investigated. The characterization of the HAP was conducted by X-ray Diffraction Analysis, and the characterization of HAP-PVA-Gelatin composites was done by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Thermomechanical Analysis, Tensile test, Thermogravimetric Differential Thermal Analysis, and Swelling Test. The produced biocomposite films might have applications in orthopedic implants, drug delivery, bone tissue engineering, and wound healing.