Preparation, characterization, and in vitro degradation of bioresorbable and bioactive composites based on Bioglass®-filled polylactide foams

Highly porous poly(D,L-lactide)/Bioglass(R) composites scaffolds were prepared by thermally induced phase separation process of polymer solutions and subsequent solvent sublimation. A series of composite foams with different polvmer/Bioglass(R) weight ratios was prepared to stud), the influence of Bioglass(R) content on the foam characteristics such as porous structure, density, and pore volume. The pore volume was decreased from 9.5 to 5.7 cm(3)/g when the Bioglass(R) content was increased up to 40 wt %, but the overall pore morphology was not affected very much by changing the polymer/glass composition ratio. The composites foams were then incubated in phosphate-buffered saline at 37degreesC to study the in vitro degradation of the polymer and to detect hydroxyapatite (HA) formation as an indication of their bioactivity. The addition of Bioglass(R) to polymer foams increased the water absorption and weight loss as compared with pure polymer foams. However, the polymer molecular weight, determined by size exclusion chromatography, was found to decrease more rapidly and to a larger extent in absence of Bioglass(R). This delayed degradation rate in the composite foams was probably caused by the dissolution of alkaline ions from the Bioglass(R), resulting in a buffering effect of the incubation medium. After incubation for 7 days, HA was detected by X-ray diffractometry and Raman spectroscopy and confirmed by environmental scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The porous composites developed here are promising materials for bone regeneration applications because the formation of HA on the surface of the pore walls should provide good environment for the adhesion and proliferation of osteoblasts and osteoprogenitor cells. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.