title: Hydroxyapatite/biodegradable poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) composite microparticles as injectable scaffolds by a Pickering emulsion route.
abstract: Hydroxyapatite (HAp)/biodegradable poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (P(LA/CL)) composite microparticles were fabricated as an injectable scaffold via the Pickering emulsion route in the absence of any molecular surfactants. A stable oil in water emulsion was obtained using water dispersed HAp nanocrystals as the particulate emulsifier and a dichloromethane (CH(2)Cl(2)) solution of P(LA/CL) as the oil phase. The concentration-viscosity relationship of the P(LA/CL) solution and its influence on the formation of a stable emulsion were investigated. The dependence of homogenization on the concentration of the P(LA/CL) solution and shear speed of homogenization was also evaluated. HAp/P(LA/CL) microparticles of various morphologies, such as plates and spheres, or with various surface morphologies were realized through adjustment of the concentration and composition of the P(LA/CL) solution. The microparticles were observed by optical microscopy and scanning electronic microscopy and their size distributions measured using a microparticle size analyzer. The weight percentages of HAp nanocrystals on the HAp/P(LA/CL) microparticles of different average sizes were measured by thermogravimetric analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biology-Oriented Science and Technology, Kinki University, 930 Nishimitani, Kinokawa, Wakayama 649-6493, Japan.
authors.forename: Xiangwen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Hayata
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Syuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Furuzono
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry*; D004655:Emulsions; D007267:Injections; D008422:Materials Testing; D008752:Methylene Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions; D013818:Thermogravimetry; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004655:Emulsions; D011091:Polyesters; D012996:Solutions; C505727:poly(epsilon-caprolactone-co-lactide); D008752:Methylene Chloride; D017886:Durapatite