Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, conventional polylactic acid scaffolds have many disadvantages, such as low stiffness, slow degradation, acid degradation solution and induced aseptic inflammation reaction.
OBJECTIVE: Based on previous study, to optimize the matching ratio of β-tricalcium phosphate/calcium polyphosphate fiber/ polylactic acid scaffolds.
METHODS: Taking β-tricalcium phosphate and calcium polyphosphate fiber as reinforced materials and polylactic acid as matrix materials in a ratio of 20/30/50, the composite scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering were fabricated by solvent-casting particulate-leaching and gas foam methods, and their physical and mechanical properties and degradation rate and microstructure were tested.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The scaffolds with porosity of 70%-95% possessed three-dimensional, interconnecting, micro-hole network structure; Compared with comparable polylactic acid scaffolds, the scaffolds had higher compressive modulus; The degradation rate of scaffolds could be controlled by adding fiber and adjusting porosity of scaffolds; Adding β-tricalcium phosphate could make the pH value of degradation solution maintain at 6.0 to 7.0 and avoid aseptic inflammation reaction caused by acidic degradation products. Therefore, the physical and mechanical properties and degradation rate of the composite scaffolds can meet the demand of cartilage tissue engineering.