title: Self-reinforced composites of bioabsorbable polymer and bioactive glass with different bioactive glass contents. Part II: In vitro degradation.
abstract: The in vitro degradation behavior of self-reinforced bioactive glass-containing composites was investigated comparatively with plain self-reinforced matrix polymer. The materials used were spherical bioactive glass 13-93 particles, with a particle size distribution of 50-125 microm, as a filler material and bioabsorbable poly-L,DL-lactide 70/30 as a matrix material. The composites containing 0, 20, 30, 40 and 50 wt.% of bioactive glass were manufactured using twin-screw extruder followed by self-reinforcing. The samples studied were characterized determining the changes in mechanical properties, thermal properties, molecular weight, mass loss and water absorption in phosphate-buffered saline at 37 degrees C for up to 104 weeks. The results showed that the bioactive glass addition modified the degradation kinetics and material morphology of the matrix material. It was concluded that the optimal bioactive glass content depends on the applications of the composites. The results of this study could be used as a guideline when estimating the best filler content of other self-reinforced osteoconductive filler containing composites which are manufactured in a similar way.
authors: Institute of Biomaterials, Tampere University of Technology, P.O. Box 589, FIN-33101 Tampere, Finland. tiiu.niemela@tut.fi
authors: Tiiu
authors: T
authors: Niemelä
authors: Henna
authors: H
authors: Niiranen
authors: Minna
authors: M
authors: Kellomäki
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D020770:Compomers / Q000737:chemistry*; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D019563:Mechanics; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020770:Compomers; D011091:Polyesters; C033616:poly(lactide)