Porous hydroxyapatite–gelatin (Hap–Gel) composite microspheres derived by wet chemical methods were used as carriers of doxorubicin (DOX) coupled with chitosan (Chi) for treating cancers. Through X-ray diffraction, specific surface area porosimetry, chemisorption analysis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, the crystalline phase, composition, morphology, and pore distribution of HAp–Gel microspheres were all characterized. HAp nanosized crystals and Gel polymers form porous

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... heres after blending and exhibit a specific surface area of 158.64 m2/g, pore sizes from 3 to 150 nm, and pore volumes of 0.4915 cm3/g. These characteristics are suitable for carriers of DOX. Furthermore, by the addition of chitosan during drug loading, its drug-entrapment efficiency increases from 70% to 99% and the release duration increases from a 100% burst within a day to only 45% over half a year since the pores in the composite microspheres provide a shielding effect throughout the degradation period of the chitosan. According to the MTT tests, cell viability of DOX–Chi/HAp–Gel is 57.64% on day 5, similar to the result treated with DOX only. It is concluded that under the protection of pores in the microspheres, the chitosan abundant of hydroxyls combining HAp–Gel and DOX by forming hydrogen bonds indeed enhances the entrapment efficiency, prolongs the releasing period and maintains DOX's ability to perform medicine functions unaffected after loading.