Preliminary analysis using dielectric properties to characterize nHA/starch based scaffolds

Abstract

In this study, the possibility of dielectric properties as an alternative method to characterize the physical properties of nHA/starch based scaffolds has been conducted. The relationship between dielectric properties and physical properties of materials from different background studies has been investigated, however, not yet applied for scaffold’s characterization in tissue engineering field. Four types of samples of nHA/starch based scaffolds with different ratio between nHA:cornstarch were fabricated which is 20: 80, 30:70, 40:60 and 50:50. As amount of starch increased, nHA/starch based scaffold was able to create well-developed pore’s pattern with more porous microstructure. nHA/starch based scaffolds recorded porosity value in the range of 68% to 80%. XRD and FTIR confirmed that, as the amount of starch increase, the molecular interactions between nHA and corn starch has occurred. Based on the dielectric measurement, the dielectric constant and loss factor were decreasing due to the decrement in the dielectric polarization. It was investigated that, the dielectric polarization was decreased possibly due to the development of scaffold’s microstructure and molecular interaction between nHA and starch which is influenced by the amount of starch.