title: In vitro analysis of biodegradable polymer blend/hydroxyapatite composites for bone tissue engineering.
abstract: Blends of biodegradable polymers, poly(caprolactone) and poly(D, L-lactic-co-glycolic acid), have been examined as scaffolds for applications in bone tissue engineering. Hydroxyapatite granules have been incorporated into the blends and porous discs were prepared. Mechanical properties and degradation rates in vitro of the composites were determined. The discs were seeded with rabbit bone marrow or cultured bone marrow stromal cells and incubated under physiological conditions. Polymer/ceramic scaffolds supported cell growth throughout the scaffold for 8 weeks. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and histological analyses were used to characterize the seeded composites. This study suggests the feasibility of using novel polymer/ceramic composites as scaffold in bone tissue engineering applications.
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Complex Engineered Systems, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA. kmarra@cs.cmu.edu
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Marra
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Szem
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Kumta
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: DiMilla
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011817:Rabbits; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018786:Bone Substitutes; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; C016240:polycaprolactone; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D017886:Durapatite