6533b85efe1ef96bd12bf812

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Preparation and characterization of PLLA-HA scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

Vincenzo La CarrubbaFrancesco Carfi' PaviaValerio Maria Bartolo Brucato

subject

ScaffoldSettore ING-IND/24 - Principi Di Ingegneria ChimicaSettore ING-IND/22 - Scienza E Tecnologia Dei MaterialiPhase separationPoly Lactic acid

description

In this work, the possibility to produce composite - Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and Hydroxyapatite (HA) - porous scaffolds via Thermally Induced Phase Separation for bone tissue engineering applications was investigated. Several PLLA/HA ratios were tested (70/30, 50/50, 30/70 and 20/80 wt/wt) and the as-obtained scaffolds were characterized via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Wide Angle X-Ray Diffraction (WAXD) and compression test. The results showed that the presence of HA does not influence the phase separation process. Morphological analysis revealed an open structure with interconnected pores and HA embedded in the polymer matrix. This evidence was confirmed by WAXD analysis; where the typical peaks of PLLA and HA appear. Finally, an increase of the young modulus was observed in the composite scaffolds with respect to pure PLLA scaffolds.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2013-01-01
http://hdl.handle.net/10447/100144