title: Effect of Si and Fe doping on calcium phosphate glass fibre reinforced polycaprolactone bone analogous composites.
abstract: Reinforcing biodegradable polymers with phosphate-based glass fibres (PGF) is of interest for bone repair and regeneration. In addition to increasing the mechanical properties, PGF can also release bioinorganics, as they are water soluble, a property that may be controllably translated into a fully degradable composite. Herein, the effect of Si and Fe on the solubility of calcium-containing phosphate-based glasses (PG) in the system (50P(2)O(5)-40CaO-(10-x)SiO(2)-xFe(2)O(3), where x=0, 5 and 10 mol.%) were investigated. On replacing SiO(2) with Fe(2)O(3), there was an increase in the glass transition temperature and density of the PG, suggesting greater crosslinking of the phosphate chains. This significantly reduced the dissolution rates of degradation and ion release. Two PG formulations, 50P(2)O(5)-40CaO-10Fe(2)O(3) (Fe10) and 50P(2)O(5)-40CaO-5Fe(2)O(3)-5SiO(2) (Fe5Si5), were melt drawn into fibres and randomly incorporated into polycaprolactone (PCL). Initially, the flexural strength and modulus significantly increased with PGF incorporation. In deionized water, PCL-Fe(5)Si(5) displayed a significantly greater weight loss and ion release compared with PCL-Fe10. In simulated body fluid, brushite was formed only on the surface of PCL-Fe(5)Si(5). Dynamic mechanical analysis in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at 37°C revealed that the PCL-Fe10 storage modulus (E') was unchanged up to day 7, whereas the onset of PCL-Fe(5)Si(5)E' decrease occurred at day 4. At longer-term ageing in PBS, PCL-Fe(5)Si(5) flexural strength and modulus decreased significantly. MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts seeded onto PCL-PGF grew up to day 7 in culture. PGF can be used to control the properties of biodegradable composites for potential application as bone fracture fixation devices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada H3A 2B2.
authors.forename: M Shah
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Muja
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Rudd
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Bureau
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Nazhat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004055:Differential Thermal Analysis; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration / Q000187:drug effects; D007477:Ions; D007501:Iron / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D011091:Polyesters / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012825:Silicon / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D018786:Bone Substitutes; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D007477:Ions; D011091:Polyesters; D014867:Water; C016240:polycaprolactone; C020243:calcium phosphate; D007501:Iron; D012825:Silicon