title: Incorporation of PLLA micro-fillers for mechanical reinforcement of calcium-phosphate cement.
abstract: Calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) are biocompatible, resorbable, injectable and osteoconductive. Those properties render such materials suitable for applications where bone repair and regeneration is required However, their brittle nature limits their application only to non-load-bearing applications. The incorporation of long polymeric fibers can improve the mechanical properties of CPCs, but aggregation is a major problem. Instead, short polymeric fillers can be easily dispersed in the cement matrix, but their reinforcing effect has not been studied yet. In this study, continuous poly-L-lactic acid fibers (PLLA) with a smooth or porous surface morphology were prepared by electrospinning. PLLA micro-fillers were developed, by means of an aminolysis process, and added to α-TCP or α-TCP/PLGA-based cements. Micro-filler distribution as well as the morphology, cohesiveness, setting times and mechanical properties were evaluated. PLLA micro-fillers were homogeneously dispersed throughout the cement while the handling properties were not significantly affected. A decrease in the initial setting times was observed when PLLA was added, while the mechanical properties were comparable to those of the α-TPC or α-TCP/PLGA compositions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials, Radboudumc, Philips van Leydenlaan 25, Nijmegen 6525 EX, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Antonio G B
authors.initials: AGB
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials, Radboudumc, Philips van Leydenlaan 25, Nijmegen 6525 EX, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials, Radboudumc, Philips van Leydenlaan 25, Nijmegen 6525 EX, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Zohal
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Azami
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials, Radboudumc, Philips van Leydenlaan 25, Nijmegen 6525 EX, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sander C G
authors.initials: SCG
authors.lastname: Leeuwenburgh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials, Radboudumc, Philips van Leydenlaan 25, Nijmegen 6525 EX, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials, Radboudumc, Philips van Leydenlaan 25, Nijmegen 6525 EX, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials, Radboudumc, Philips van Leydenlaan 25, Nijmegen 6525 EX, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Jeroen.vandenBeucken@radboudumc.nl.
authors.forename: Jeroen J J P
authors.initials: JJJP
authors.lastname: van den Beucken
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000737:chemistry*; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001843:Bone Cements; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D011091:Polyesters; C033616:poly(lactide)
keywords: Calcium phosphate cements; Electrospinning; Fiber reinforcement; PLLA; Polymeric fillers