Fabrication and characterization of bioactive wollastonite/PHBV composite scaffolds

Composite scaffolds of polyhydroxybutyrate-polyhydroxyvalerate (PHBV) with bioactive wollastonite were fabricated by a compression moulding, thermal processing, and salt particulate leaching method. Structure and mechanical properties of the scaffolds were determined. The bioactivity of the composites was evaluated by soaking in a simulated body fluid (SBF), and the formation of the hydroxyapatite (HAp) layer was determined by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS). The results showed that the wollastonite/PHBV composites were bioactive as it induced the formation of HAp on the surface of the composite scaffolds after soaking in SBF for 14 days. In addition, the measurements of the water contact angles suggested that incorporation of wollastonite into PHBV could improve the hydrophilicity of the composites and the enhancement was dependent on the wollastonite content. Furthermore, the pH and ion concentration changes of SBF solutions with composite scaffolds showed that the composites released Ca and Si ions, which could neutralize the acidic by-products of the PHBV and stabilize the pH of the SBF solutions between 7.2 and 7.8 within a 3-week soaking period. All of these results suggest that the incorporation of wollastonite was a useful approach to obtain composite scaffolds with improved properties.