PLA/PCL composites manufactured from commingled yarns for biomedical applications

Composites manufactured with textiles weaved with commingled yarns using PLA (polylactic acid) and PCL (polycaprolactone) fibres are promising candidates for connective tissue engineering. In this work, textiles were fabricated using PLA/PCL commingled yarns in a ratio of 3 to 1, which were subsequently consolidated by compression moulding to produce solid composite plates. Specimens were extracted from the composite plates and submitted to degradation testing by immersion in PBS fluid (phosphate-buffered saline) at different periods. The dry mass, mechanical performance (tensile tests), thermal properties and molecular weight evolution, and cell compatibility by direct and indirect testing were evaluated and discussed. The results obtained demonstrated the material viability for connective tissue (tendon/ligament) repair and substitution.