Development and in vitro characterisation of novel bioresorbable and bioactive composite materials based on polylactide foams and Bioglass® for tissue engineering applications

Bioactive and bioresorbable composite materials were fabricated using macroporous poly(DL-lactide) (PDLLA) foams coated with and impregnated by bioactive glass (Bioglass(R)) particles. Stable and homogeneous Bioglass' coatings on the surface of PDLLA foams as well as infiltration of Bioglass(R) particles throughout the porous network were achieved using a slurry-dipping technique in conjunction with pre-treatment of the foams in ethanol. The quality of the bioactive glass coatings was reproducible in terms of thickness and microstructure. Additionally, electrophoretic deposition was investigated as an alternative method for the fabrication of PDLLA foam/Bioglass(R) composite materials. In vitro studies in simulated body fluid (SBF) were performed to study the formation of hydroxyapatite (HA) on the surface of PDLLA/Bioglass(R) composites. SEM analysis showed that the HA layer thickness rapidly increased with increasing time in SBF. The high bioactivity of the PDLLA foam/Bioglass(R) composites indicates the potential of the materials for use as bioactive, resorbable scaffolds in bone tissue engineering. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.