Bonelike apatite coating on skeleton of poly(lactic acid) composite sponge

A novel sponge. coated with bonelike apatite (b-HA) on its skeleton surface, was prepared using a particle-leaching technique combined with a biomimetic processing. A powder mixture consisting of calcium carboriate/poly(lactic acid) composite (CCPC) and sucrose was hot-pressed and then the resulting compact was soaked in the Simulated body fluid at 37degreesC. Within the first hour, the sucrose was completely dissolved out. resulting in the formation of large-sized pores in the compact, and subsequently, after 3 hours of soaking. b-HA formed on the skeleton consisting of CCPC. On the other hand. on a pore-free CCPC, the apatite started to form after 12similar to18 hours. The induction period for b-HA formation on the skeleton of the CCPC sponge prepared using a particle-leaching technique is significantly shorter than that of the pore-free CCPC. The short period is suggested to originate front that a large amount of Ca2+ ion is rapidly supplied into the compartment space (pore) from the CCPC skeleton. The formed sponge has numerous. large pores of 450similar to580mum in diameter, which are connected with channels having a diameter in the range of 70similar to120 mum, as well as a high porosity of 75%. Animal test Using rats showed that the sponge has osteoconduction. The sponge is expected to be one of the promising candidates for osteoconducting fillers or tissue-engineering scaffolds.