2.6. Characterization of PVABG/ChiCol composite scaffolds
The crystal structure of the composite pellets was determined by powder x-ray diffraction (XRD) (Bruker Diffractometer, Model D8 Advance) using the CuKα radiation and operating at 40 kV and 40 mA current. The angles scanned were from 2θ = 20° to 60° at scanning speed of 1 incremental step of 0.037° per second. For the FT-IR absorption measurements, the powders were mixed with KBr and pressed into pellets using pressure of 8 t for 1 min. The pellets were analyzed using a Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrophotometer (Spectrum GX, Perkin Elmer) which performed 16 scans over the
range 370–4000 cm−1. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) (JEOL
model JSM-6301F) was used to observe the changes in size and morphology
of the samples before and after soaking in the SBF solution