Surface modification of bioactive glass nanoparticles and the mechanical and biological properties of poly(L-lactide) composites

Acta Biomater. 2008 Jul;4(4):1005-15. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2008.02.013. Epub 2008 Mar 4.

Abstract

Novel bioactive glass (BG) nanoparticles/poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) composites were prepared as promising bone-repairing materials. The BG nanoparticles (Si:P:Ca=29:13:58 weight ratio) of about 40nm diameter were prepared via the sol-gel method. In order to improve the phase compatibility between the polymer and the inorganic phase, PLLA (M(n)=9700Da) was linked to the surface of the BG particles by diisocyanate. The grafting ratio of PLLA was in the vicinity of 20 wt.%. The grafting modification could improve the tensile strength, tensile modulus and impact energy of the composites by increasing the phase compatibility. When the filler loading reached around 4 wt.%, the tensile strength of the composite increased from 56.7 to 69.2MPa for the pure PLLA, and the impact strength energy increased from 15.8 to 18.0 kJ m(-2). The morphology of the tensile fracture surface of the composite showed surface-grafted bioactive glass particles (g-BG) to be dispersed homogeneously in the PLLA matrix. An in vitro bioactivity test showed that, compared to pure PLLA scaffold, the BG/PLLA nanocomposite demonstrated a greater capability to induce the formation of an apatite layer on the scaffold surface. The results of marrow stromal cell culture revealed that the composites containing either BG or g-BG particles have much better biocompatibility compared to pure PLLA material.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials / metabolism
  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Crystallography
  • Glass / chemistry*
  • Lactic Acid / chemistry*
  • Lactic Acid / metabolism*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Polyesters
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Polymers / metabolism*
  • Rabbits
  • Silicon
  • Surface Properties
  • Tensile Strength

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Polyesters
  • Polymers
  • Lactic Acid
  • poly(lactide)
  • Silicon