Surface characterization of completely degradable composite scaffolds

Abstract

The goal of this study was to characterise the surface properties of completely degradable composite, polylactic acid and calcium phosphate glass, scaffolds. The composite scaffolds are made by solvent casting or phase-separation, using chloroform and dioxane as a solvent respectively. The surface properties were measured on composite films which were made using the same procedure as for the three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds without the pore-creating step. The surface morphology, roughness, wettability and protein adsorption capacity of the films was measured before and after sterilisation with ethylene oxide. The results reveal the influence of solvent type, glass weight content and sterilisation on the wettability, surface energy and protein adsorption capacity of the materials. The addition of glass particles increase the hydrophylicity, roughness and protein adsorption capacity of the surface. This effect, however, depends on the extent of the coating of the glass particles by the polymer film, which is much higher for dioxane films than for chloroform films. This information can be used to interpret and understand the biological behaviour of the 3D scaffolds made of this composite materials.

Surface characterization and cell response of a PLA/CaP glass biodegradable composite material

“…Nevertheless, it can be stated that the G5 glass presented a clear hydrophilic nature, and its incorporation into the polymer induced an increase in wettability of the composite surface. 26 The contact angle values measured with water and with culture medium in the surface of the PLA/ G5 composite, remained almost unchanged. In contrast, the contact angle values obtained for the PLA and for the G5 glass with the mixture of proteins dispersed in the culture medium, was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the angle obtained with distilled and deionized water.…”

“…The proximity of the experimental values to the Berg limit implies that small changes in surface roughness could move the results obtained to any of the wettability domains. Nevertheless, it can be stated that the G5 glass presented a clear hydrophilic nature, and its incorporation into the polymer induced an increase in wettability of the composite surface 26…”

Bioactive composites for bone tissue engineering

“…Polylactic acid scaffolds produced using porogens Charles-Harris et al, [11,12] produced porous PLDLA reinforced with 20 or 50wt% calcium phosphate glass scaffolds by solution casting using sodium chloride salt particles to produce porosity. After dissolving the PLDLA in chloroform the P 2 O 5 -CaO-Na 2 O-TiO 2 based glass and salt were added and the chloroform was allowed to evaporate and then the salt dissolved out.…”

Towards 4th generation biomaterials: a covalent hybrid polymer–ormoglass architecture

“…PLA was chosen as polymeric compound because of its biodegradability, biocompatibility and excellent features as bone graft substitute. 30,31 Taking into account that material structure influences cellular activity (adhesion and migration, for examples), the choice of a proper implant architecture is a key point for the design of fully functional scaffolds. 30,31 Taking into account that material structure influences cellular activity (adhesion and migration, for examples), the choice of a proper implant architecture is a key point for the design of fully functional scaffolds.…”