Feasibility, tailoring and properties of polyurethane/bioactive glass composite scaffolds for tissue engineering

J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2009 Nov;20(11):2189-95. doi: 10.1007/s10856-009-3787-0. Epub 2009 Jun 2.

Abstract

This research work aims to propose highly porous polymer/bioactive glass composites as potential scaffolds for hard-tissue and soft-tissue engineering. The scaffolds were prepared by impregnating an open-cells polyurethane sponge with melt-derived particles of a bioactive glass belonging to the SiO(2)-P(2)O(5)-CaO-MgO-Na(2)O-K(2)O system (CEL2). Both the starting materials and the composite scaffolds were investigated from a morphological and structural viewpoint by X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy. Tensile mechanical tests, carried out according to international ISO and ASTM standards, were performed by using properly tailored specimens. In vitro tests by soaking the scaffolds in simulated body fluid (SBF) were also carried out to assess the bioactivity of the porous composites. It was found that the composite scaffolds were highly bioactive as after 7 days of soaking in SBF a HA layer grew on their surface. The obtained polyurethane/CEL2 composite scaffolds are promising candidates for tissue engineering applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry
  • Body Fluids / chemistry
  • Bone and Bones / pathology
  • Glass / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / methods
  • Models, Statistical
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Polyurethanes / chemistry*
  • Porosity
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Tensile Strength
  • Time Factors
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry*
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Polymers
  • Polyurethanes