Premium
Crystallization processes at the surface of polylactic acid—bioactive glass composites during immersion in simulated body fluid
Author(s) -
Ginsac Nathalie,
Chenal JeanMarc,
Meille Sylvain,
Pacard Elodie,
Zenati Rachid,
Hartmann Daniel J.,
Chevalier Jérôme
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part b: applied biomaterials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.665
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1552-4981
pISSN - 1552-4973
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.b.31913
Subject(s) - simulated body fluid , crystallization , immersion (mathematics) , materials science , polylactic acid , composite material , scanning electron microscope , chemical engineering , polymer , mathematics , pure mathematics , engineering
Abstract We report on the crystallization processes occurring at the surface of PDLLA‐Bioglass® composites immersed in simulated body fluid. Composites manufactured by injection molding and containing different amounts (0, 20, 30, and 50 wt %) of 45S5 Bioglass® particles were tested for durations up to 56 days and compared with Bioglass® particles alone. Crystallization processes were followed by visual inspection, X‐ray diffraction (with Rietveld analysis) and scanning electron microscopy. Both calcite and hydroxyapatite were formed at the surface of all materials, but their relative ratio was dependent on the Bioglass® content and immersion time. Hydroxyapatite was always the major phase after sufficient immersion time, insuring bioactivity of such composites especially for Bioglass® content higher than 30 wt %. A scenario of crystallization is proposed. Rapid degradation of the composites with 50 wt % was also observed during immersion. Therefore, composites with 30 wt % of Bioglass® particles seem to exhibit the best balance between bioactivity and stability at least during the first weeks of immersion in contact with body fluids. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2011.