Biophysical stimulation for bone regeneration using a chitosan/barium titanate ferroelectric composite

Herein we report the synthesis of a ferroelectric composed of chitosan (C)/barium titanate (BT) nanoparticles (NPs) with enhanced biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and piezoelectric behavior that can be advantageously used in biomedical applications. FTIR and SEM measurements were performed to assess the mechanism of interaction between the C matrix and BT NPs and their correlation with the biological responses. The dielectric measurements of the as-prepared composites reveal that incorporation of 50% BT NPs in the chitosan matrix leads to a steady increase of the dielectric constant as compared with neat chitosan films. The ferroelectric behavior of the sample was confirmed by the values of the loss factor (0.21-0.003) in the analyzed frequency range (10^-1-10⁶ Hz). This behavior suggests that ferroelectric C/BT nanocomposites can act as an active material that promotes accelerated bone regeneration.