Structure and Property Evolution of Microinjection Molded PLA/PCL/Bioactive Glass Composite

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Biodegradable polymers like polylactic acid (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) are crucial for biomedical applications.
• Incorporating bioactive glass (BG) can enhance the biological performance of polymer composites.
• Developing efficient manufacturing techniques is essential for the industrialization of these materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare polylactic acid (PLA)/polycaprolactone (PCL)/bioactive glass (BG) composites using microinjection molding.
• To investigate the effect of varying BG content on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and in vitro bioactivity of the composites.
• To evaluate the potential of microinjection molding for producing advanced biodegradable biomedical materials.

Main Methods:

• Microinjection molding was used to fabricate PLA/PCL/BG composites with different BG concentrations.
• Characterization involved scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, water contact angle (WCA) tests, and mechanical testing.
• In vitro biological evaluations were performed, including assessment of hydroxyapatite (HA) formation in simulated body fluid (SBF).

Main Results:

• Microinjection molding induced in situ PCL fibril formation and homogeneous dispersion of BG particles in the PLA/PCL matrix.
• The Young's modulus of PLA/PCL/BG composites increased significantly with BG content, reaching 2122.9 MPa at 10 wt% BG (1.47 times higher than unfilled PLA/PCL).
• BG fillers facilitated the transformation into hydroxyapatite (HA) on the sample surface in SBF, enhancing in vitro bioactivity.

Conclusions:

• Microinjection molding is an effective technique for producing PLA/PCL/BG composites with improved mechanical properties and bioactivity.
• The enhanced dispersion and structural changes induced by microinjection molding contribute to superior material performance.
• These biodegradable composites demonstrate significant potential for industrial applications in the biomedical field.