Ca-P Formation on Poly-L-lactide/β-Tricalcium Phosphate Composite Scaffold in Simulated Body Fluid

Poly-L-lactide/β-tricalcium phosphate (PLLA/β-TCP) porous scaffold fabricated by freeze shrinking/particulate leaching was studied. The scaffold was immersed into simulated body fluid (SBF) for 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks and analyzed by the SEM, XRD and FT-IR spectroscopy. The ability of inducing Ca-P formation was compared among the scaffolds with different content of βTCP. SEM shows a typical feature of apatite precipitation. Diffraction peak of new crystal structure was detected by x-ray diffraction (XRD). IR Spectrum in which absorption bands arise from newly formed groups of carbonate apatite can be seen. At the same testing point, higher density of Ca-P crystal can be observed by SEM in scaffold with high content of β-TCP than in low group. Until 3 weeks, Ca-P individual crystal started on the wall of inner pore of pure PLLA. Porous PLLA/β-TCP composite scaffolds also indicate good ability of Ca-P formation in vitro, the ability of which to form apatite was enhanced by addition of each other that has different degradable mechanism.