Abstract: Investigation has been focused on detailed determination of the mass transport properties of novel biomaterials with unique properties for clinical applications consisted of the polymeric electrospun membranes (chitosan and polyurethane) and bone-like hydroxyapatite. Transport characteristics were determined both in the gaseous and the liquid systems by combination of Graham’s diffusion cell and an inverse liquid chromatography technique. The optimum transport parameters for chitosan and polyurethane nanofibrous membranes were found as follows: <r>ψ = 61.5 nm, ψ =0.130 and <r>ψ = 61.2 nm, ψ = 0.165, respectively. Furthermore, based on comparison of the transport parameters with textural characteristics was concluded that the most significance role in the mass transport process play a fraction of pores with radii between 370 and 470 nm. Effective diffusion coefficients (5.92×10-17 and 6.54×10-17 cm2/s) for two polystyrene samples with different molecular weight (1000 and 100,000, respectively) in cyclohexane were determined from the responses of a chromatographic column packed with the bone-like hydroxyapatite.

Keywords: Biocompatible material, Electrospun nanofibrous membrane, Chitosan, Polyurethane, Bone-like hydroxyapatite, Graham’s diffusion cell, Inverse liquid chromatography, Transport characteristics

Pages: 102-110