Characterisation and in vitro and in vivo evaluation of supercritical-CO2-foamed β-TCP/PLCL composites for bone applications.

Most synthetic bone grafts are either hard and brittle ceramics or paste-like materials that differ in applicability from the gold standard autologous bone graft, which restricts their widespread use. Therefore, the aim of the study was to develop an elastic, highly porous and biodegradable β-tricalciumphosphate/poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (β-TCP/PLCL) composite for bone applications using supercritical CO2 foaming. Ability to support osteogenic differentiation was tested in human adipose stem cell (hASC) culture for 21 d.

In Vitro Degradation of Borosilicate Bioactive Glass and Poly(l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) Composite Scaffolds.

Composite scaffolds were obtained by mixing various amounts (10, 30 and 50 weight % [wt %]) of borosilicate bioactive glass and poly(l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) copolymer. The composites were foamed using supercritical CO₂. An increase in the glass content led to a decrease in the pore size and density.

An in vitro study of composites of poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone), β-tricalcium phosphate and ciprofloxacin intended for local treatment of osteomyelitis.

Osteomyelitis is a bacterial disease that can become chronic, and treatment often includes a surgical operation to remove infected bone. The aim of this study was to develop and investigate in vitro bone filling composite materials that release ciprofloxacin to kill any remaining bacteria and contain bioceramic to help the bone to heal. Three composites of poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone), β-tricalcium phosphate and ciprofloxacin were compounded using twin-screw extrusion and sterilized by gamma irradiation.

Processing and sustained in vitro release of rifampicin containing composites to enhance the treatment of osteomyelitis.

The objective in this study was to develop an osteoconductive, biodegradable and rifampicin releasing bone filling composite material for the treatment of osteomyelitis, a bacterial infection of bone that is very difficult and expensive to treat. The composite material will be used together with a ciprofloxacin releasing composite, because of the rapid development of resistant bacteria when rifampicin is used alone. Three composites were manufactured by twin-screw extrusion.

Hydrolytic degradation of composites of poly(L-lactide-co-epsilon-caprolactone) 70/30 and β-tricalcium phosphate.

There is an increasing need for synthetic bone substitute materials that decrease the need for allografts and autografts. In this study, composites of β-tricalcium phosphate and a biodegradable poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) were manufactured using extrusion to form biodegradable composites with high β-tricalcium phosphate contents for osteoconductivity. The hydrolytic degradation of the composites containing 0, 10, 20, 35 and 50% of β-tricalcium phosphate was studied in vitro for 52 weeks.