Poly(D,L-lactic acid) coated 45S5 Bioglass-based scaffolds: processing and characterization

A comparative investigation has been carried out on the mechanical properties and bioactivity of Bioglass-based foams, before and after applying a poly(D,L-lactic acid) (PDLLA) coating layer on the foam struts. It was found that the bioactivity of foams upon immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) was maintained in the PDLLA-coated foams; however, the transformation kinetics in SBF of the crystalline phase (Na(2)Ca(2)Si(3)O(9)) in the foam struts to an amorphous calcium phosphate phase was retarded by PDLLA coating. The compressive and three-point bending strengths of the Bioglass-based foams were slightly improved by the PDLLA-coating, and the work-of-fracture of the foams was considerably enhanced, as indicated by stress-strain curves. Immersion in SBF for 4 weeks led to a large decrease of the mechanical strength of as-sintered foams decreased (from 0.3 to 0.03 MPa), because of the transformation of the crystalline phase to an amorphous calcium phosphate. On the other hand, the mechanical strength was well-maintained in PDLLA-coated foams after immersion in SBF for 8 weeks. This behavior was attributed to the in-situ formation of a nanocomposite PDLLA/calcium phosphate film on the strut surfaces upon immersion in SBF.