Background/Aim: Porous poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) is used as long-term bioresorbable scaffold for bone tissue engineering. The bone regeneration process can be enhanced by addition of apatites (AP). This study was aimed at evaluating the influence of the PCL/AP ratio on the in vitro degradation and bioactivity of composites. Methods: The samples (synthesised at the Istituto per la Tecnologia dei Materiali Compositi-CNR, Napoli) had the following PCL/AP wt/wt ratios: 50/50, 60.5/39.5 and 74.5/25.5. The in vitro biodegradation was investigated under sterile conditions at 37°C in different media: saline phosphate buffer at pH 7.5 (SPB), 0.01 M NaOH solution, simulated body fluid at pH 7.5 (SBF) and esterase in SPB. The samples were analysed by Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Results: Raman and DSC analyses of the undegraded samples showed that the crystallinity degree of the PCL component was decreasing along the series: 50/50>60.5/39.5>74.5/25.5. After 28 days of treatment, the samples showed different degradation patterns and extents depending on the degradation medium, the starting PCL crystallinity and composite composition. Weight measurements, Raman and TG analyses revealed deposition of an apatitic phase on all the composites immersed in SBF. Conclusions: All the samples displayed a good bioactivity; the sample which showed the most pronounced apatitic deposition was 50/50, i.e. that containing the highest amount of AP.
In vitro bioactivity of poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-apatite (PCL-AP) scaffolds for bone tissue engineering: the influence of the PCL/AP ratio.
TADDEI, PAOLA;DI FOGGIA, MICHELE;FAGNANO, CONCEZIO
2005
Abstract
Background/Aim: Porous poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) is used as long-term bioresorbable scaffold for bone tissue engineering. The bone regeneration process can be enhanced by addition of apatites (AP). This study was aimed at evaluating the influence of the PCL/AP ratio on the in vitro degradation and bioactivity of composites. Methods: The samples (synthesised at the Istituto per la Tecnologia dei Materiali Compositi-CNR, Napoli) had the following PCL/AP wt/wt ratios: 50/50, 60.5/39.5 and 74.5/25.5. The in vitro biodegradation was investigated under sterile conditions at 37°C in different media: saline phosphate buffer at pH 7.5 (SPB), 0.01 M NaOH solution, simulated body fluid at pH 7.5 (SBF) and esterase in SPB. The samples were analysed by Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Results: Raman and DSC analyses of the undegraded samples showed that the crystallinity degree of the PCL component was decreasing along the series: 50/50>60.5/39.5>74.5/25.5. After 28 days of treatment, the samples showed different degradation patterns and extents depending on the degradation medium, the starting PCL crystallinity and composite composition. Weight measurements, Raman and TG analyses revealed deposition of an apatitic phase on all the composites immersed in SBF. Conclusions: All the samples displayed a good bioactivity; the sample which showed the most pronounced apatitic deposition was 50/50, i.e. that containing the highest amount of AP.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
