title: Porous polylactide/beta-tricalcium phosphate composite scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.
abstract: Porous polylactide/beta-tricalcium phosphate (PLA/beta-TCP) composite scaffolds were fabricated by freeze-drying. The aim of this study was to characterize these graded porous composite scaffolds in two different PLA concentrations (2 and 3 wt%). Also, three different beta-TCP ratios (5, 10 and 20 wt%) were used to study the effect of beta-TCP on the properties of the polymer. The characterization was carried out by determining the pH, weight change, component ratios, thermal stability, inherent viscosity and microstructure of the scaffolds in 26 weeks of hydrolysis. This study indicated that no considerable change was noticed in the structure of the scaffolds when the beta-TCP filler was added. Also, the amount of beta-TCP did not affect the pore size or the pore distribution in the scaffolds. We observed that the fabrication method improved the thermal stability of the samples. Our results suggest that, from the structural point of view, these scaffolds could have potential for the treatment of osteochondral defects in tissue engineering applications. The porous bottom surface of the scaffold and the increased osteogenic differentiation potential achieved with beta-TCP particles may encourage the growth of bone cells. In addition, the dense surface skin of the scaffold may inhibit the ingrowth of osteoblasts and bone tissue, while simultaneously encouraging the ingrowth of chondrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Tampere University of Technology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, PO Box 692, 33101 Tampere, Finland. anne-marie.haaparanta@tut.fi
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Haaparanta
authors.forename: Suvi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haimi
authors.forename: Ville
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ellä
authors.forename: Niina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hopper
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miettinen
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Suuronen
authors.forename: Minna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kellomäki
mesh_terms: D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration / Q000187:drug effects; D006868:Hydrolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011091:Polyesters / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016062:Porosity / Q000187:drug effects; D012996:Solutions; D013818:Thermogravimetry; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014783:Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D011091:Polyesters; D012996:Solutions; C485817:beta-tricalcium phosphate; C033616:poly(lactide)