title: In vitro degradation behavior of a novel bioresorbable composite material based on PLA and a soluble CaP glass.
abstract: Poly(alpha-hydroxy acids), and in particular polylactic acid (PLA), are nowadays amongst the most used bioabsorbable materials. However, this polymer may not meet some application requirements due to inadequate mechanical properties and or its degradation characteristics. A possible strategy to tackle this problem is the incorporation of an inorganic phase into the polymeric matrix. In this work a new fully biodegradable composite material made with PLA and calcium phosphate soluble glass particles has been developed. The behaviour of the PLA/glass composite has been analysed during its degradation in simulated physiological conditions by means of weight loss, molecular weight and thermal properties analysis and electron microscopy observation. The results showed that the incorporation of phosphate glass particles into the polymer significantly accelerated the degradation of the PLA and induced the formation of calcium phosphate precipitates at the composite surface.
authors.affiliation: Reference Centre for Bioengineering of Catalonia (CREBEC), Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Division, Department of Materials Science, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ginebra
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Planell
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Barrias
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Barbosa
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000042:Absorption; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry*; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000737:chemistry*; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry*; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D018786:Bone Substitutes; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); C020243:calcium phosphate