The degradation properties of co-continuous calcium phosphate polyester composites: insights with synchrotron micro-computer tomography.

This study investigates the in vitro degradation properties of composites consisting of a porous tricalcium phosphate (TCP) foam filled with degradable poly(dl-lactic acid) (PDLLA) via either in situ polymerization or infiltration. The motivation was to develop a material for bone repair that would be initially mechanically strong and would develop porosity during degradation of one of the components. A thorough analysis of the physical in vitro degradation properties has been conducted and reported by the same authors elsewhere.

Degradation properties of co-continuous calcium-phosphate-polyester composites.

Co-continuous composites consisting of a porous calcium phosphate matrix (hydroxyapatite, HA, or β-tricalcium phosphate, TCP) filled with poly(D,L-lactide) (PDLLA) were produced with two different methods: in situ polymerization of D,L-lactide monomer inside the matrix, or infiltration of the matrix with molten polymer. The influence of the calcium phosphate matrix as well as the manufacturing method on the degradation were investigated with accelerated in vitro studies at 42 °C in pH 7.4 phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), with some controls at 37 °C.

The effect of tri-calcium phosphate (TCP) addition on the degradation of polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA).

This paper investigates the effects of alpha-tri-calcium phosphate (alpha-TCP) addition on the properties of polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA). Samples with additions of 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 wt% alpha-TCP were prepared via a hotpressing method. Long-term in vitro studies (up to 60 days) were carried out in pH 7.

Controlling ion release from bioactive glass foam scaffolds with antibacterial properties.

Bioactive glass scaffolds have been produced, which meet many of the criteria for an ideal scaffold for bone tissue engineering applications, by foaming sol-gel derived bioactive glasses. The scaffolds have a hierarchical pore structure that is very similar to that of cancellous bone. The degradation products of bioactive glasses have been found to stimulate the genes in osteoblasts.

Optimising bioactive glass scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.

A 3D scaffold has been developed that has the potential to fulfil the criteria for an ideal scaffold for bone tissue engineering. Sol-gel derived bioactive glasses of the 70S30C (70 mol% SiO2, 30 mol% CaO) composition have been foamed to produce 3D bioactive scaffolds with hierarchical interconnected pore morphologies similar to trabecular bone. The scaffolds consist of a hierarchical pore network with macropores in excess of 500 microm connected by pore windows with diameters in excess of 100 microm, which is thought to be the minimum pore diameter required for tissue ingrowth and vasularisation in the human body.