- In this research, highly porous hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) sponges with different concentrations were prepared and cross linked by which the HEC sponges were changed from soluble into insoluble from in water which also enhanced its biodegradability. After the crosslinking process, hydroxyapatite (HA) crystals were formed on the HEC sponges through the crystallization process by using 20X simulated body fluid solution (SBF) solution, and the product was characterized by using FTIR, optical microscopy, FESEM with EDX, and XRD. From the FTIR results obtained, the presence of acetal group at the wavenumbers around 1022.20-1025.83 cm-1 had showed the cross-linking process was succeeded. FTIR results after the crystallization showed peak of PO43- and CO32- which indicate the presence of HA crystals. This result was confirmed by using XRD and FESEM-EDX. There were extra peaks shown in the sample after crystallization compared to the sample before crystallization for the XRD analysis. This can proved the existence of the HA crystals. Further confirmation was done by using FESEM-EDX, and the element composition of HA crystals was revealed, which consisted of C, O, P and Ca. The morphology and the size of the HA crystals was determined by using FESEM. From the results obtained, it showed that HA crystals synthesized were in round shape, and the size of the HA crystals increased when the concentration of the HEC sponges increased. This is due to the polar hydroxyl side groups of the HEC molecules tend to interact with Ca2+ during the HA crystallization process. The hydroxyapatite coated HEC sponges were highly stable in water and can be a promising scaffold material.

Keywords : Hydroxyethyl cellulose, biomaterial, hydroxyapatite, freeze drying, simulated body fluid