Abstract: Chitosan fiber (CF) as reinforcement to improve the mechanical properties of calcium phosphate cement (CPC) is presented, while CF/CPC composite artificial bone with concentric fiber structure that mimics the microstructure of natural bone is fabricated. Special resin precise moulds produced by rapid prototyping (RP) are used to prepare two types of cylindrical CF/CPC artificial bones (20 mm×20 mm and 10 mm×20 mm), which are evaluated respectively by initial intensity and in vivo intensity experiment. The initial strength of the CF/CPC composite specimens is 11~26 MPa, significantly higher than CPC’s 4 ~10 MPa. And the porous structure and the macropores, which are gradually achieved for bone growth with the dissolution of chitosan fibers during the canine condyle defect repairing, do not lower mechanical properties of the implanted CF/CPC composite artificial bone. In conclusion, the existence of chitosan fibers can achieve the needed initial strength for CPC while tissue regeneration is occurring, and create porous structure for bone growth to turn to strengthen the implant when the fiber is dissolved, and this alleviates the conflict between artificial bone’s porous structure and its strength.

Key words: Artificial bone, Composite, Mechanical property