Chiang Mai Journal of Science

     Porosity is one of the parameters of the nanocomposite scaffold pore structure that must be developed using poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA)/Chitosan (CS)/corn starch as a polymer composite for making porous nano-carbonated hydroxyapatite (n-CHA). This study aims to evaluate the effect of adding corn starch concentrations of 5 and 10 wt% on the physicochemical properties and antibacterial activity of n-CHA/PVA/CS/corn starch nanocomposite scaffolds synthesized using the gas foaming method. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) results indicate that all nanocomposite scaffolds showed the C–H stretching from alkyl groups for PVA was shown at 2932–2162 cm^-1. X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) results show that adding corn starch 10 wt% reduces crystallite size and increases microstrain in the nanocomposite scaffold, indicating changes in microstructure. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) characterization showed that the addition of corn starch contributed to the formation of macroporous structures on the nanocomposite scaffold surface. Adding corn starch 10 wt% affected the highest porosity (71.6%) compared with the other nanocomposite scaffolds. Antibacterial activity tests showed the scaffold's weak inhibitory power against gram-positive bacteria in the oral cavity. Further testing is required on hard tissue types, particularly bone tissue, such as the bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Fusobacterium nucleatum. Based on physicochemical properties analysis, the n-CHA/PVA/CS/corn starch nanocomposite scaffold can be a candidate for bone tissue engineering.