title: A novel injectable poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/calcium sulfate system for bone regeneration: synthesis and characterization.
abstract: A novel poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/calcium sulfate system was prepared and characterized in order to enhance calcium sulfate (gypsum) performance as bone graft substitute overcoming its brittleness and fast resorption rate. A poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) photo-crosslinkable derivative (PCLf) was synthesized by reaction of a low molecular weight PCL diol with methacryloyl chloride and confirmed by FT-IR and 1H NMR analyses. An injectable and easy mouldable mixture of PCLf and calcium sulfate hemi-hydrate (PCLf/CHS) was obtained. Thermal analyses and solvent extraction proved the occurrence of PCLf photo-crosslinking, even in the presence of CHS, in a time suitable for clinical applications. Swelling studies demonstrated that the encapsulation of the inorganic filler increases network hydrophilicity making it more permeable to water. Scanning electron microscopy, performed on crosslinked PCLf/CHS and on the same material after incubation in a PBS solution, showed the feasibility to obtain, in situ, gypsum entrapped into a degradable polymeric network. In vitro cytotoxicity tests, performed according to ISO 10993-5, proved that the developed system was not cytotoxic supporting its potential use in tissue engineering as a new, injectable, photocurable bone graft material. SEM micrograph of calcium sulfate di-hydrate (gypsum) entrapped in the PCL network.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Second University of Naples, Via L. De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Gatta
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Rosa
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Laurienzo
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malinconico
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Rosa
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schiraldi
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D002133:Calcium Sulfate / Q000737:chemistry*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D007267:Injections; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D010777:Photochemistry; D011091:Polyesters / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D018786:Bone Substitutes; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D008689:Methacrylates; D011091:Polyesters; C507887:poly(epsilon-caprolactone) dimethacrylate; D002133:Calcium Sulfate