Freeze-casting for PLGA/carbonated apatite composite scaffolds: structure and properties

M. Schardosim (1, 2) , Jérémy Soulié (1) , Dominique Poquillon (1) , Sophie Cazalbou (1) , Benjamin Duployer (1) , Christophe Tenailleau (1) , Christian Rey (1) , R. Hübler (2) , Christèle Combes (1)

1 CIRIMAT - Centre interuniversitaire de recherche et d'ingenierie des matériaux
2 PUC-RS - Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul [Brasil] = Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul [Brazil] = Université catholique pontificale de Rio Grande do Sul [Brésil]

This paper focuses on the fabrication of three-dimensional porous PLGA-biomimetic carbonated apatite composite scaffolds by freeze-casting and using dimethyl carbonate as a solvent. Several charge/polymer ratios were tested in order to finely understand the influence of the filler rate on the scaffold porosity and mechanical and degradation properties using complementary characterization techniques (SEM, mercury porosimetry and X-ray microtomography). It was demonstrated that the apatite ratio within the composite scaffold has a strong influence in terms of architecture, material cohesion, mechanical properties and in vitro degradation properties. An optimum biomimetic apatite ratio was reached to combine good mechanical properties (higher rigidity) and material cohesion. In vitro degradation studies showed that higher apatite filler rates limited PLGA degradation and enhanced the hydrophilicity of the scaffolds which is expected to improve the biological properties of the scaffolds in addition to the bioactivity related to the presence of the apatite analogous to bone mineral.

Mots clés: Porous scaffolds; Composite; PLGA; Carbonated apatite; Bone engineering

Domaines: Génie des procédés; Matériaux

M. Schardosim, Jérémy Soulié, Dominique Poquillon, Sophie Cazalbou, Benjamin Duployer, et al.. Freeze-casting for PLGA/carbonated apatite composite scaffolds: structure and properties. Materials Science and Engineering: C, 2017, vol. 77, pp.731-738. ⟨10.1016/j.msec.2017.03.302⟩. ⟨hal-01623713⟩