Preparing novel polylactic acid based bone scaffold composites with enhanced calcium phosphate deposition behavior and bioactivity via simple one‐step melt extrusion

Abstract

Polylactic acid (PLA) is regarded as the most representative biomedical polymer materials. However, some problems, that is, its big brittleness, high hydrophobicity, and poor bioactivity, limit its application. Here, using poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) as toughening agent, and incorporating ethylene diamine tetra(methylene phosphonic acid) (EDTMPA) for the first time with nano‐hydroxyapatite (nHA) as reinforcement filler, series of PLA/PBAT/nHA/EDTMPA as novel bone scaffold composites are successfully prepared via simple one‐step melt extrusion. The chemical composition, microstructures, thermodynamic properties, mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, and bioactivities of PLA/PBAT/nHA/EDTMPA were characterized. The test results show that these developed PLA‐based composites from safe biosources are greatly potential raw materials for bone scaffold because the existence of EDTMPA can chelate with calcium ions to promote calcium phosphate (CaP) deposition on the surface of bone scaffold composites. Especially, when the content of EDTMPA is 6 wt%, the comprehensive performance of the bone scaffold composite is the best. The research results indicate that these developed PLA‐based materials are greatly potential raw materials for bone scaffold composites.