Effects of Mechanical Stress on the in vitro Degradation of Porous Composite Scaffold for Bone Tissue Engineering

In bone tissue engineering, porous scaffolds served as the temporary matrix are often subjected to mechanical stress when implanted in the body. Based on this fact, the goal of this study was to examine the effects of mechanical loading on the in vitro degradation characteristics and kinetics of porous scaffolds in a custom-designed loading system. Porous Poly(L-lactic acid)/β-Tricalcium Phosphate (PLLA/β-TCP) composite scaffolds fabricated by using solution casting/compression molding/particulate leaching technique (SCP) were subjected to degradation in simulated body fluid (SBF) at 37°C for up to 6 weeks under the conditions: with and without static compressive loading, respectively. The results indicated that the increase of the porosity and decrease of the compressive strength under static compressive loading were slower than that of non-loading case, and so did the mass loss rate. It might be due to that the loading retarded the penetration, absorption and transfer of simulated body fluid. These data provide an important step towards understanding mechanical loading factors contributing to degradation.