title: Biodegradable HA-PLA 3-D porous scaffolds: effect of nano-sized filler content on scaffold properties.
abstract: Scaffolds comprising poly(lactic acid) and nano-hydroxyapatite (HA) were prepared using the solvent-casting/salt-leaching technique. NaCl was used as the leaching agent. Nano-sized HA was synthesized by a hydrothermal method at 170 degrees C and autogenous pressure. High-resolution TEM imaging revealed that the HA particles were ellipsoidal-shaped with needle-like morphologies. The particles had an average size of approximately 25 nm in width and 150 nm in length with aspect ratios ranging from 6 to 8. As the HA content increased in the scaffold from 0 to 50 wt%, the compression modulus of the scaffolds increased from 4.72+/-1.2 to 9.87+/-1.8 MPa, while the yield strength from 0.29+/-0.03 to 0.44+/-0.01 MPa. Such polymeric scaffolds should be suitable materials for non-load sharing tissue-engineering applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Materials Science, 97 N. Eagleville Rd, U-3136, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA. sekhar@ims.uconn.edu
authors.forename: Chandrasekhar R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Kothapalli
authors.forename: Montgomery T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000042:Absorption; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D017886:Durapatite / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D008970:Molecular Weight; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D013696:Temperature; D044366:Transition Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D014867:Water; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); D017886:Durapatite