A Study of Bone-Like Apatite Formation on β-TCP/PLLA Scaffold in Static and Dynamic Simulated Body Fluid

The ability of apatite to form on the surface of biomaterials in simulated body fluid (SBF) has been widely used to predict the bone-bonding ability of bioceramic and bioceramic/polymer composites in vivo. Porous β-tricalcium phosphate/poly(L-lactic acid) (β-TCP/PLLA) composite scaffold was synthesized by new method. The ability of inducing calcium phosphate (Ca-P) formation was compared in static simulated body fluid(sSBF) and dynamic simulated body fluid (dSBF). The Ca-P morphology and crystal structures were identified using SEM, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The results showed that the typical features of bone-like apatite formation on the surface and the inner pore wall of β-TCP/PLLA. Ca-P formation on scaffold surfaces in dSBF occurred slower than in sSBF and was more difficult with increasing flow rate of dSBF. The ability of apatite to form on β-TCP/PLLA was enhanced by effect of each other that has different degradable mechanism. Porous β-TCP/PLLA composite scaffold indicates good ability of Ca-P formation in vitro.