Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) blends were prepared by mechanical mixture and fusion of homopolymers. Samples were submitted to in vitro degradation tests (immersion in a phosphate buffer solution with pH = 7.4 at 37 °C). Independently of the blend composition, PEO was dissolved after 14 days of immersion. As expected, after immersion, scanning electron microscopy showed that the blends were porous, contrary to the samples, which were not immersed in the buffer solution. Phase separation was not evident. Using differential scanning calorimetry, the melting points (Tm) of both PLLA and PEO crystalline fractions were observed and remained practically constant, indicating no miscibility. Thermogravimetry showed that the temperature where the main mass loss stage starts (Tonset), depended on the blend composition and period of immersion in the buffer. The blends and the PLLA homopolymer were implanted in defects produced in the tibias of rats. The blends were as biocompatible as the PLLA

Natural or synthetic materials may be used to aid tissue repair of fracture or pathologies where there has been a loss of bone mass. Polymeric materials have been widely studied, aiming at their use in orthopaedics and aesthetic plastic surgery. Polymeric biodegradable blends formed from two or more kinds of polymers could present faster degradation rate than homopolymers. The purpose of this work was to compare the biological response of two biomaterials: poly(L: -lactic acid)PLLA and poly(L: -lactic acid)PLLA/poly(ethylene oxide)PEO blend. Forty four-week-old rats were divided into two groups of 20 animals, of which one group received PLLA and the other PLLA/PEO implants. In each of the animals, one of the biomaterials was implanted in the proximal epiphysis of the right tibia. Each group was divided into subgroups of 5 animals, and sacrificed 2, 4, 8 and 16 weeks after surgery, respectively. Samples were then processed for analysis by light microscopy. Newly formed bone was found around both PLLA and PLLA/PEO implants. PLLA/PEO blends had a porous morphology after immersion in a buffer solution and in vivo implantation. The proportion 50/50 PLLA/PEO blend was adequate to promote this porous morphology, which resulted in gradual bone tissue growth into the implant.

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