title: Osteoconductive and degradable electrospun nonwoven poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/CaO-SiO2 gel composite fabric.
abstract: A nonwoven ceramic/polymer composite fabric composed of randomly mixed bioactive and fast degradable CaO-SiO(2) gel fibers and biodegradable poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) fibers is prepared with a simultaneous electrospinning method for potential use as bone grafting materials. A 17% PCL solution is prepared using 1,1,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol as the solvent, whereas the CaO-SiO(2) gel solution is prepared via a condensation reaction following the hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate. PCL and CaO-SiO(2) gel solutions are spun simultaneously with two separate nozzles. As controls, pure PCL and CaO-SiO(2) gel nonwoven fabrics are also made by the same methods. The three nonwoven fabrics were exposed to simulated body fluid for 1 week and resulted in the deposition of a layer of apatite crystals on the surfaces of both the CaO-SiO(2) gel and PCL/CaO-SiO(2) gel composite fabrics, but not on the PCL fabric. A tensile strength test showed that the fracture behavior of the CaO-SiO(2) gel fabric was brittle, that of the PCL fabric was ductile-tough, and that of the PCL/CaO-SiO(2) gel composite fabric was intermediate between that of the CaO-SiO(2) gel and PCL fabrics. Our in vivo tests showed that the CaO-SiO(2) gel and PCL/CaO-SiO(2) gel composite fabrics had good osteoconductivity and fast degradation rates in calvarial defects of New Zealand white rabbits within 4 weeks, in contrast to the pure PCL fabric. Together, these results suggest that the composite fabric composed of PCL and CaO-SiO(2) gel fibers must have a great potential for use in applications such as bone grafting because of its good osteoconductivity and adequate mechanical properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Yeongeon 28, Jongno, Seoul 110-749, Korea.
authors.forename: Yang-Jo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Seol
authors.forename: Kyoung-Hwa
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: In Ae
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Rhee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D005782:Gels; D010087:Oxides; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; C016538:lime