Poly(amino acid)/nano hydroxyapatite (PAA/n-HA) bioactive composite was prepared by in situ melting polymerization. The composition, structure and morphology as well as glass transition temperature (Tg), dynamic mechanical properties of the PAA/n-HA composite were characterized by infrared spectrometer, X-ray diffractometer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, differential scanning calorimeter, and dynamic mechanical analyzer. The results indicated that the n-HA particles were uniformly distributed into PAA matrix and some interactions were found at the interface between PAA and n-HA, and the crystallinity of PAA in the composite decreased with the increase of n-HA content. The Tg and storage modulus of the composite increased with increasing n-HA content, demonstrating that the n-HA content had obvious effects on the crystallization kinetic parameters and thermo properties of the PAA/n-HA composite. In addition, the n-HA amount had evident effects on the degradation of the PAA/n-HA composite in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), and the weight loss ratio of the composite decreased with the increase with n-HA content. The pH value of the medium was stable around 7.40 after the composite immersion into PBS for 8 weeks. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012