title: In vitro and in vivo degradation behavior of n-HA/PCL-Pluronic-PCL polyurethane composites.
abstract: Scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications should have suitable degradability in favor of new bone ingrowth after implantation into bone defects. In this study, degradation behavior of polyurethane composites composed of triblock copolymer poly(caprolactone)-poluronic-poly(caprolactone) (PCL-Pluronic-PCL, PCFC) and nanohydroxyapatite (n-HA) was investigated. The water contact angle and water absorption were measured to reveal the effect of n-HA content on the surface wettability and swelling behavior of the n-HA/PCFC composites, respectively. The weight loss in three degradation media with pH value of 4.0, 7.4, and 9.18 was also studied accordingly. Fourier transform infrared analysis, differential scanning calorimeter, X-ray diffraction, thermal-gravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy were used to investigate the change of chemical structure and micromorphology after the n-HA/PCFC composite with 30% HA was degraded for different time intervals. Meanwhile, in vivo degradation was conducted by subcutaneous implantation. The weight loss and morphology change during observation periods were also studied.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, 646000, China.
authors.forename: Shao-Zhi
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Xiao-Hang
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Ling-Lin
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Qing-Lian
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Bi-Qiong
authors.initials: BQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lan-Lan
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jing-Bo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D063566:Biodegradable Plastics / Q000737:chemistry*; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008422:Materials Testing; D011060:Poloxalene / Q000737:chemistry*; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D063566:Biodegradable Plastics; D011140:Polyurethanes; D011060:Poloxalene; D017886:Durapatite
keywords: PCL-Pluronic-PCL; degradation behavior; n-hydroxyapatite; polyurethane composite