Mechanical strength of ceramic scaffolds reinforced with biopolymers is comparable to that of human bone

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine Vol. 22; no. 5; pp. 1111 - 1118
• Main Authors: Henriksen, S. S., Ding, M., Vinther Juhl, M., Theilgaard, N., Overgaard, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.05.2011; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biomaterials; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Biomedical materials; Biopolymers; Biopolymers - chemistry; Bone and Bones - physiology; Bone Substitutes - chemistry; Bones; Ceramics; Ceramics - chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Composites; Computer Simulation; Glass; Human; Humans; Hyaluronic acid; Implantation; Materials Science; Materials Testing; Mechanical properties; Medical sciences; Natural Materials; Polymer Sciences; Porosity; Regenerative Medicine/Tissue Engineering; Scaffolds; Strength; Stress, Mechanical; Surfaces and Interfaces; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments; Thin Films; Hyaluronic Acid; Bone Ingrowth; Poly Lactic Acid; Composite Scaffold; Scaffold Material; Human; Mechanical properties; Calcium phosphate; Scaffold; Lactone polymer; Composite material; Osteoarticular system; Lactic acid polymer; Aliphatic polymer; Biopolymer; Biomaterial; Bone; Hyaluronic acid; Microstructure; Ceramic materials; Comparative study; Strength; Biomedical engineering; Reinforced material
• ISSN: 0957-4530; 1573-4838
• DOI: 10.1007/s10856-011-4290-y

Eight groups of calcium-phosphate scaffolds for bone implantation were prepared of which seven were reinforced with biopolymers, poly lactic acid (PLA) or hyaluronic acid in different concentrations in order to increase the mechanical strength, without significantly impairing the microarchitecture. Controls were un-reinforced calcium-phosphate scaffolds. Microarchitectural properties were quantified using micro-CT scanning. Mechanical properties were evaluated by destructive compression testing. Results showed that adding 10 or 15% PLA to the scaffold significantly increased the mechanical strength. The increase in mechanical strength was seen as a result of increased scaffold thickness and changes to plate-like structure. However, the porosity was significantly lowered as a consequence of adding 15% PLA, whereas adding 10% PLA had no significant effect on porosity. Hyaluronic acid had no significant effect on mechanical strength. The novel composite scaffold is comparable to that of human bone which may be suitable for transplantation in specific weight-bearing situations, such as long bone repair.