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Synthesis of Graphene-Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposites for Potential Use in Bone Tissue Engineering
Published on: July 27, 2022
Biodegradable polylactide/hydroxyapatite nanocomposite foam scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications.
Claire Delabarde1, Christopher J G Plummer, Pierre-Etienne Bourban
1Laboratoire de Technologie Des Composites Et Polymères (LTC), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
Journal of Materials Science. Materials in Medicine
|March 23, 2012
Summary
Supercritical carbon dioxide processing of poly-L-lactide (PLLA)/hydroxyapatite (nHA) nanocomposites created bone scaffolds with controlled porosity and cell size. These PLLA/nHA foams exhibit mechanical properties suitable for bone tissue engineering applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Materials Engineering
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Poly-L-lactide (PLLA) and hydroxyapatite (nHA) are key materials for bone tissue engineering.
- Developing effective scaffolds requires precise control over material properties and morphology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) processing for creating PLLA/nHA nanocomposite foams.
- To evaluate the suitability of these foams as scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.
Main Methods:
- Utilized supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) to process poly-L-lactide (PLLA)/hydroxyapatite (nHA) nanocomposites.
- Varied foaming parameters to control scaffold porosity, cell size, and morphology.
- Characterized the degree of crystallinity and mechanical properties (compressive modulus and strength).
Main Results:
- Addition of nHA reduced cell sizes and improved homogeneity in PLLA foams.
- Porosity significantly influenced mechanical properties; nHA did not provide significant matrix reinforcement.
- Achieved ~85% porosity with interconnected morphology and cell diameters of 200-400 μm.
Conclusions:
- scCO2 processing is effective for creating PLLA/nHA nanocomposite foams for bone scaffolds.
- The generated scaffolds meet geometrical requirements for bone replacement.
- Mechanical properties are comparable to trabecular bone, indicating potential for bone tissue engineering.
