Preparation and Processing of Resorbable Composites for Implants With Enhanced Mechanical Properties

摘要

Development and processing of bioactive and resorbable materials which can be replaced by the body's own tissue is an attractive approach for the replacement of a part of a bone, e.g. after a fracture. In this paper, a novel consolidation route for polylactide (PLA) / hydroxylapatite (HA) composites by a combined approach of coating HA powder with a thin PLA layer is presented. The HA/PLA share can thus be varied in a wide range, which is especially interesting for increasing the amount of HA in the composite material for improving mechanical properties. Furthermore the powder based approach allows for introducing a defined porosity. The composites were processed by uniaxial compaction, injection molding and by a modified powder injection molding route. Depending on the processing route mechanical properties comparable to cortical bone were obtained for this material, indicating suitability for applications in bone implants and tissue engineering.