Materials Science Forum, Vol.494, 499-506, 2005
Biodegradable and bioactive polymer/Bioglass (R) composite foams for tissue engineering scaffolds
Porous bioresorbable and bioactive composite materials designed for applications as scaffolds in tissue engineering are discussed. The systems fabricated by thermally induced phase separation method and based on poly(D,L-lactide) (PDLLA) or poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) with additions of bioactive glass particles (45S5 Bioglass (R)) are described in detail. The scaffolds exhibit a well-defined, oriented and interconnected porosity. The porosity structure of foams with and without Bioglass (R) was characterised by scanning electron microscopy. The in vitro bioactivity and degradability of the composite foams were investigated in contact with phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and simulated body fluid (SBF). High chemical reactivity of scaffolds in SBF, which leads to the prompt formation of bonelike hydroxyapatite crystals on the material surfaces, indicates an enhanced bioactive character of the composites and therefore their potential for use as bone tissue engineering scaffolds.