Preparation of vaterite/poly(lactic acid) composites with excellent apatite-forming ability

A new type of ceramic-polymer biomaterial having excellent apatite-forming ability in simulated body fluid (SBF) was prepared by hot-pressing a mixture consisting of poly(-L-lactic acid) (PLA) and calcium carbonate (vaterite). The composite containing 30% vaterite showed no brittle fracture behavior and comparably high bending strength of similar to 50 MPa. Apatite layer of several micrometers in thickness formed on its surface after soaking in SBF at 37 degrees C only for 1 day. Osteoclast culture tests showed that the composite coated with apatite has excellent bioresorbability. After incubation of human osteoblasts, mineralized bone nodule formation was seen on the surface.