title: Preparation and characterization of novel poly(ε-caprolactone)/biphasic calcium phosphate hybrid composite microspheres.
abstract: Desirably porous biodegradable hybrid composite microspheres were fabricated for use in bone graft and bone substitute applications. In this study, novel poly(ε-caprolactone)/biphasic calcium phosphate (70/30) composite microspheres (PCL/BCP MPs) were prepared using the emulsion solvent-evaporation method. Throughout this process, the ammonium bicarbonate (NH₄HCO₃) content was changed to obtain the desired porous structure. However, to maintain the spherical shape, the NH₄HCO₃ content should not be higher than 5%. In the optical images of the PCL/BCP MPs, almost all the microparticles had a spherical shape, and the average diameter was about 600 μm. The scanning electron microscopy and cross-sectional optical images showed that the pore density and pore diameter of PCL/BCP MPs increased with increasing initial NH₄HCO₃ concentrations. In the phase-composition analysis of the PCL/BCP MPs, which was characterized by X-ray diffraction and EDS, the two crystals BCP and PCL phases were shown to be miscible in PCL/BCP MPs. When the degradation of these microspheres was characterized, PCL/BCP MPs-0, PCL/BCP MPs-2, and PCL/BCP MPs-5 were found to display a sustained biodegradability, and the rate of degradation increased at higher initial NH₄HCO₃ concentrations. Proliferation of cells on three different sample types was assessed and compared, and based on these results, the PCL/BCP MPs-5 was chosen to study MG-63 osteoblast-cell adhesion, growth, and proliferation. Furthermore, confocal images indicated that the cells effectively adhered, spread, and proliferated on PCL/BCP MPs-5 during a 5-day culture period.
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering and Materials, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Chungnam 330-090, Republic of Korea.
authors: Trinh-Quang
authors: TQ
authors: Bao
authors: Rose-Ann
authors: RA
authors: Franco
authors: Byong-Taek
authors: BT
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001639:Bicarbonates; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D008722:Methods; D008863:Microspheres; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology; D010316:Particle Size; D011091:Polyesters / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone; C027043:ammonium bicarbonate