Mechanical Analysis of Biocomposite Materials from Bacterial Cellulose and Hydroxyapatite

Abstract

Bacterial cellulose (BC), which is cultivated from Gluconacetobacter xylinus, is the finest natural cellulose with a diameter of 30 nm–50 nm. Because of its high levels of uniformity and purity, BC has unique physical and mechanical properties for applications in biomaterials. In this study, sample cellulose was prepared in advance from Gluconacetobacter xylinus under static cultivation. After the provision of hydroxyapatite was executed using dicalcium phosphate dehydrates and CaCO3, BC was introduced in the alkaline solution at 55°C for further reaction. Regarding mechanical strength and endotoxin evaluation, the biocomposite of BC and hydroxyapatite yielded stronger results after the addition of 5% BC. The compressive resistance of the trial product reached approximately 141.36 MPa, and the endotoxin level could be reduced to 0.3 EU/mL if the raw biocomposite was sintered using alginate as a hardener at 1200°C for 1h. With its high level of compressive resistance and low level of endotoxins, the proposed biocomposite material has great potential for employment as a filling material.