Duplex surface modification of porous poly (lactic acid) scaffold

A duplex surface modification method is used to enhance the surface and mechanical properties of porous poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) scaffold. The scaffold was first modified by a surface alkali hydrolysis treatment and then it underwent a short-time surface coating process. An acetic acid treatment was introduced to the traditional surface hydrolysis; the result indicates that this novel surface alkali hydrolysis treatment can further improve the hydrophilicity and surface roughness of the PLLA scaffold. Surface hydrolysis also improves the bonding strength of the scaffold with the coating significantly. The existence of the gelatin-hydroxyapatite hybrid coating increases the hydrophilicity, mechanical property and apatite-forming ability of the scaffold considerably. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.