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Fabrication of novel calcium phosphate/poly(lactic acid) fiber composites

  • University of Connecticut
  • Teleflex Medical

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Composites using high-modulus polylactic acid (PLA) Fibers coated with calcium phosphate (CaP) were prepared using a cyclic precipitation technique. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that small nuclei of CaP formed after the first soaking cycle, while large quantities of CaP particles were observed after the sixth cycle. The amount of CaP deposited on the PLA yarn increased with deposition time in Ca2+ and PO43- solutions and number of cycles, and decreased with stirring rate during washing cycles. It was observed that around 35 wt % of CaP was deposited on the yarn surface after six cycles of cyclic-soaking. Based on the results, a heterogeneous nucleation and growth mechanism was proposed for the CaP deposition on the surface of hydrolyzed polyester. Composites comprising the coated fibers in a poly(caprolactone) matrix exhibited flexural moduli within the range of that of the cortical bone. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)89-97
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Biomedical Materials Research - Part B Applied Biomaterials
Volume84
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2008

Keywords

  • Biodegradable composite
  • Calcium phosphate
  • Cyclic precipitation technique
  • Poly(lactic acid) fibers

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