Autores UPV
Deplaine Biamou Tchanzeu Harmony Mireille Françoise,
Lebourg Myriam Annette Madeleine,
P. RIPALDA,
Vidaurre Garayo Ana Jesús,
Sanz-Ramos Patricia,
GONZALO MORA,
FELIPE PROSPER,
I OCHOA,
Doblare Castellano Manuel,
Gómez Ribelles José Luís,
I IZAL,
Gallego Ferrer Gloria
Abstract
Polymerceramic composites obtained as the result
of a mineralization process hold great promise for the future
of tissue engineering. Simulated body fluids (SBFs) are
widely used for the mineralization of polymer scaffolds. In
this work an exhaustive study with the aim of optimizing the
mineralization process on a poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) macroporous
scaffold has been performed. We observed that when
an air plasma treatment is applied to the PLLA scaffold its hydroxyapatite
nucleation ability is considerably improved.
However, plasma treatment only allows apatite deposition on
the surface of the scaffold but not in its interior. When a 5 wt
% of synthetic hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles is mixed
with PLLA a more abundant biomimetic hydroxyapatite layer
grows inside the scaffold in SBF. The morphology, amount,
and composition of the generated biomimetic hydroxyapatite
layer on the pores surface have been analyzed. Large mineralization
times are harmful to pure PLLA as it rapidly
degrades and its elastic compression modulus significantly
decreases. Degradation is retarded in the composite scaffolds
because of the faster and extensive biomimetic apatite deposition
and the role of HAp to control the pH. Mineralized scaffolds,
covered by an apatite layer in SBF, were implanted in
osteochondral lesions performed in the medial femoral
condyle of healthy sheep. We observed that the presence of
biomimetic hydroxyapatite on the pores surface of the composite
scaffold produces a better integration in the
subchondral bone, in comparison to bare PLLA scaffolds.
