Preparation, Property Analyses And Application Of β-tricalcium Phosphate/poly (L-Lactic Acid) Composite Materials

In this study, porous laminated composite scaffolds of P -tricalcium phosphate-poly[L-lactic acid ] are constructed with a new processing technique. Pore sizes of resulting composite materials range from 200^-500 um. Pores are interconnected with each other. Average porosity of entire composite materials is above 60% with porosity of P -TCP slices being 20-40% and that of PLLA membranes being 70-90% respectively. In vitro 16 weeks' degradation experiments of composite scaffolds in physiological solution at 37癈, the alteration of weight and mechanical strength of scaffolds, the molecular weight of PLLA, pH value and Ca2+ composition of immersing solution are measured by every weeks. Some results indicate that composite materials are helpful to maintain near neutrality of immersing solution, and the weight losses of composite materials are heavy during first three weeks, weight losses are light from fourth to tenth week, and from tenth week to sixteen week, weight losses accelerate. In the process of degradation of composite scaffolds, results of experiment show a definitely increasing tendency of Ca2+ composition. In vivo experiment, these porous composite scaffolds are implanted in 3 cm long tinial defects of 6 Chinese goats after 3 days' culture of marrow bone cells on them. After 12 weeks' implantation, the scaffolds are completely absorbed and replaced by new bones. This study indicates the promising prospect in bone tissue engineering of porous laminated composite scaffolds.