Preparation of bioactive hydroxyapatite@halloysite and its effect on MC3T3-E1 osteogenic differentiation of chitosan film

Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) are widely used in biomedical field due to their special tubular structure and high reinforcing ability, while hydroxyapatite (HAP) is generally used in tissue engineering owing to its excellent biocompatibility and biological activity. In this work, hydroxyapatite@halloysite nanotubes(HAP@HNTs) hybrid was synthesized via a facial hydrothermal reaction process. The morphology, particle size, specific surface area, and chemical composition of the hybrid were thoroughly characterized by different techniques. Rod-like HAP nanoparticles can be anchored on the outer surface of the clay tubes, which lead to a maximum increase of 4.7 m(2)/g in the specific surface area of HAP@HNTs over that of HNTs. HAP nanoparticles have little effect on the pores of HNTs, but diffraction peak strength of HNTs is covered by the HAP crystals. HAP@HNTs exhibit improved cytocompatibility and possess osteogenic differentiation ability towards MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts. Chitosan/HAP@HNTs composite films were then prepared by doping of HAP@HNTs into chitosan by solution mixing. HAP@HNTs can serve as a functional phase which enhances mechanical properties of chitosan films and osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. This work provides a facial synthesis routine of bioactive HAP@HNTs, which combines the osteogenic activity of HAP and the good mechanical properties of HNTs. HAP@HNTs can be used a novel bone regeneration biomaterial as local delivery systems with improved osteoinductive properties.