In vitro degradation of porous poly( dl-lactide- co-glycolide) (PLGA)/bioactive glass composite foams with a polar structure

• Published in: Polymer degradation and stability Vol. 92; no. 1; pp. 14 - 23
• Main Authors: Orava, Eeva, Korventausta, Joni, Rosenberg, Meri, Jokinen, Mika, Rosling, Ari
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 2007; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bioactive glass; Biological and medical sciences; Cellular; Composite; Composites; Degradable polymers; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Medical sciences; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Porosity; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Technology of polymers; Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments; Weight loss; Bioactive glass; Porosity; Composite; Degradable polymers; Weight loss; Biodegradation; Glycolic acid copolymer; Biological properties; Lactone copolymer; Biodegradability; Lactic acid copolymer; Glass; Bioactive material; Experimental study; In vitro; Porous material; Composite material; Pore size; Morphology; Foam(plastics); Structure modification; Biomaterial; Kinetics
• ISSN: 0141-3910; 1873-2321
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2006.10.004

In vitro degradation of porous 50/50, 70/30 and 90/10 PLGA (poly(
dl-lactide-
co-glycolide)) foams and PLGA/bioactive glass (20
wt%) composite foams was studied up to 16 weeks in TRIS (pH 7.4; 37
°C). Polar PLGA/bioactive glass composite films were prepared by applying the bioactive glass (S53P4) on one side of the composite. Porous foams were made by solvent casting and pressure quenching with CO
2. The fabricated foams had an initial pore size of 50–500
μm and thickness of 2–2.5
mm.
In vitro degradation of the prepared foams was evaluated after 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 16 weeks. Weight loss, water uptake, molecular mass and the amount of dissolved bioactive glass were measured after each time period. Changes in pore morphology were analysed with SEM. The present
in vitro results will be evaluated and compared with the results from ongoing animal studies where comparable implants are used for bone defect treatment under non-load-bearing conditions.