Zinc substituted hydroxyapatite/silk fiber/methylcellulose nanocomposite for bone tissue engineering applications

Fibrous bio-composite based on silk fiber (SF), methylcellulose (MC) and zinc substituted hydroxyapatite (Zn x Ca 5- x (PO 4 ) 3 (OH) ( x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0)) were obtained with the use of electrospinning ( E -Spin) method. XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDAX, swelling, porosity and mechanical properties of the composites were analyzed. The elongation at break (%) (20.97–317.20 %) and tensile strength (29.85–110.92 MPa) of nanocomposites was increased with an increase in the wt% of Zn-HAP in SF/MC. An increase in the zone of inhibition with an increase in the wt% of Zn-HAP into the SF/MC was observed against E. coli (34 ± 0.33 to 47 ± 1.15) , S. aureus (28 ± 0.24 to 38 ± 1.32) and C. albicans (24 ± 0.36 to 39 ± 2.36). The in-vitro biomineralization study using SBF (simulated body fluid) showed apatite layer formation on the nano-composite. In addition, the optimized (20 wt % of Zn 1 . 0 Ca 4.0 (PO 4 ) 3 (OH)/SF/MC) nano-composite showed good cell viability against human bone osteosarcoma (MG-63) cells. • Electrospinning method was utilized to synthesize the composite. • Composite with 20 wt% of Zinc-hydroxyapatite enhanced the bioactivity. • High cytocompatibility against MG-63 cells using composite with 20 wt% of Zn-HAP.