Preparation and characterization of nano biphasic calcium phosphate/poly-L-lactide composite scaffold

Abstract

Nano biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) particles were synthesized using the sol-gel method. As-prepared BCP particles were combined with poly-L-lactide (PLLA) to fabricate nano-BCP/PLLA composite scaffold through a series of processing steps containing solvent self-diffusion, hot-pressing, and particulate leaching. The composite had a suitable porous structure for bone tissue engineering scaffold. In comparison, micro-BCP/PLLA scaffold was studied as well. Nano-BCP particles were distributed homogeneously in the PLLA matrix, and much more tiny crystallites exposed on the surface of the pore wall. Due to the finer inorganic particle distribution in the PLLA phase and the larger area of the bioactive phase exposed in the pore wall surface, nano-BCP/PLLA scaffold had enhanced compressive strength, good bioactivity, and superior cell viability. A nonstoichiometric apatite layer could be rapidly formed on the surface of nano- BCP/PLLA when soaked in simulated body fluid. The MG-63 cell viability of nano-BCP/PLLA scaffold is significantly higher than that of micro-BCP/PLLA scaffold. Therefore, nano-BCP/PLLA composite may be a suitable alternative for bone tissue engineering scaffold.

Keywords

• bioactivity
• biodegradation
• composite scaffold
• cyto-compatibility