Multifunctional PLLA-ceramic fiber membranes for bone regeneration applications

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) is a biodegradable polymer widely used in biomedical applications.
• Hydroxyapatite (HA) is a key component of bone, making it a suitable material for bone regeneration.
• Electrospinning is a versatile technique for fabricating polymer nanofibers for various applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel method for creating PLLA membranes incorporating glass reinforced hydroxyapatite (gHA) granules.
• To investigate the effect of gHA incorporation on the structural, mechanical, and biological properties of PLLA membranes.
• To evaluate the potential of these composite membranes for bone healing strategies.

Main Methods:

• Electrospinning of PLLA solutions with interspaced gHA granules (≤150μm).
• Characterization of fiber diameter, porosity, wettability, and mechanical properties.
• Assessment of bone-bonding ability through in vitro studies, including cell adhesion, cytoskeleton organization, and alkaline phosphatase activity.

Main Results:

• Composite membranes exhibited reduced average fiber diameter (440±170nm) compared to pristine PLLA (550±150nm).
• Increased porosity (88±5%) in composite membranes compared to PLLA (79±3%), while maintaining wettability and mechanical properties.
• Enhanced F-actin cytoskeleton organization, cell-fiber, and cell-cell interactions, along with increased alkaline phosphatase activity in gHA composite samples.

Conclusions:

• The novel electrospinning method successfully produced PLLA/gHA composite membranes with enhanced surface area for cellular interactions.
• These composite membranes demonstrate improved biological responses, including better cell adhesion, spreading, and osteogenic activity.
• The developed PLLA/gHA membranes show significant potential as candidates for advanced bone healing strategies.