Incorporation of hydroxyapatite in crosslinked gelatin/chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) hybrids utilizing as reinforced composite sponges, and their water absorption ability

The crosslinked gelatin/chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)/hydroxyapatite (GEL/CTS/PVA/HAp, GCPH) sponges were fabricated by a freeze-drying method to yield the reinforced composite sponges with proper features. The porosity value and pore size of the crosslinked GCPH sponges reached ∼80% and 50–100 ​μm, respectively, which can be an appropriate range to allow cells to migrate into the reinforced composite sponges in the tissue engineering technology. Besides, the proper bonding presence between HAp particles and the crosslinked polymeric matrix or the crosslinked network formation between the polymers were also proved through fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermal gravimetric (TG/DTG) analysis. Owing to incorporation of HAp particles and good distribution of HAp particles inside the crosslinked polymeric matrix, their mechanical properties were improved through the determination of compression tests. Concomitantly, their water absorption ability reached effectively in both the distilled water and NaCl solution, and their recovery also maintained well for 10 absorbing–squeezing cycles to be considered as an effective reusability for the crosslinked sponge system. Thereby, the crosslinked GCPH sponge prepared in the present study can become a potential candidate to apply especially in the biomedical/medical applications and tissue engineering technology. [Display omitted] •The crosslinked GEL/CTS/PVA/HAp (GCPH) sponges were successfully fabricated by a freeze-drying method.•The chemical bonds/interactions between HAp particles and polymeric materials were investigated.•The crosslinked GCPH sponges achieved desired porosity values and pore sizes, as well as enhanced mechanical properties.•Their water absorption ability and recovery reached effectively in both the distilled water and NaCl solution.