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Published on: October 23, 2015
A New Bioactive Polylactide-based Composite with High Mechanical Strength
Quanxiao Dong1, Laurence C Chow2, Tongxin Wang3
1Crest Center for Nanomaterials, College of Engineering, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA ; College of Dentistry, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA ; CAS Key Laboratory of Engineering Plastics, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese, Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China ; Beijing Engineering Research Center of Architectural Functional Macromolecular Materials, Beijing Building Construction Research Institute, Co., Ltd., Beijing, 100039, China.
Researchers developed a novel bioresorbable polylactide/tetracalcium phosphate composite. This material demonstrates enhanced mechanical properties and reduced inflammation for biomedical applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Polylactide (PLA) is a widely used biodegradable polymer, but its mechanical properties and degradation byproducts can limit its biomedical applications.
- Tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP) is a basic calcium phosphate filler that can improve the properties of PLA composites.
- Improving the interfacial adhesion between PLA and TTCP is crucial for optimizing composite performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel bioresorbable polylactide/tetracalcium phosphate (PLA/TTCP) composite with enhanced mechanical strength.
- To improve the interfacial adhesion between PLA and TTCP using surface modification agents.
- To investigate the potential of the modified composite for biomedical applications with reduced inflammatory response.
Main Methods:
- Melt compounding was used to prepare the PLA/TTCP composite.
- N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminoproplytrimethoxysilane (AEAPS) and pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) were employed for surface modification of TTCP and interfacial enhancement.
- Tensile testing and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were conducted to evaluate mechanical properties.
Main Results:
- The tensile strength of the PLA/TTCP-AEAPS composite (20 wt% TTCP) reached 68.4 MPa, a significant increase from 51.5 MPa for the unmodified composite.
- Incorporation of PMDA (0.2 wt%) into the PLA/TTCP-AEAPS composite (5 wt% TTCP) resulted in a 51% improvement in storage modulus compared to pure PLA.
- AEAPS improved TTCP dispersion, while PMDA potentially enhanced interfacial bonding through reactions with PLA and modified TTCP.
Conclusions:
- A novel bioresorbable PLA/TTCP composite with significantly improved mechanical strength and modulus was successfully prepared.
- Surface modification using AEAPS and PMDA effectively enhanced interfacial adhesion between PLA and TTCP.
- The developed composite holds promise for biomedical applications due to its improved properties and potential to reduce acidic degradation products, thereby minimizing inflammation and allergic reactions.
