Impact of In Vitro Degradation on the Properties of Samples Produced by Additive Production from PLA/PHB-Based Material and Ceramics

Abstract

The present study deals with preparing a polymer-based material with incorporated ceramics and monitoring changes in properties after in vitro natural degradation. The developed material is a mixture of polymers of polylactic acid and polyhydroxybutyrate in a ratio of 85:15. Ceramic was incorporated into the prepared material, namely 10% hydroxyapatite and 10% tricalcium phosphate of the total volume. The material was processed into a filament form, and types of solid and porous samples were prepared using additive technology. These samples were immersed in three different solutions: physiological solution, phosphate-buffered saline, and Hanks’ solution. Under constant laboratory conditions, changes in solution pH, material absorption, weight loss, changes in mechanical properties, and surface morphology were monitored for 170 days. The average value of the absorption of the solid sample was 7.07%, and the absorption of the porous samples was recorded at 8.33%, which means a difference of 1.26%. The least change in pH from the reference value of 7.4 was noted with the phosphate-buffered saline solution. Computed tomography was used to determine the cross-section of the samples. The obtained data were used to calculate the mechanical properties of materials after degradation. The elasticity modulus for both the full and porous samples degraded in Hanks’ solution (524.53 ± 13.4 MPa) has the smallest deviation from the non-degraded reference sample (536.21 ± 22.69 MPa).

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“…Balogová et al described a biocompatible material consisting of PLA polymers with the addition of ceramics suitable for 3D cultivation of chondrocytes in which long-term biodegradation was monitored in a simulated physiological environment. The results of the study showed that the biodegradation of the material was gradual, and the material appeared to be stable in the organism's environment [151]. Trebu ňová et al tested the composite material PLA/PHB for cultivation and cytotoxicity while evaluating the most optimal ratio of individual components for the mentioned parameters.…”

Polylevolysine and Fibronectin-Loaded Nano-Hydroxyapatite/PGLA/Dextran-Based Scaffolds for Improving Bone Regeneration: A Histomorphometric in Animal Study

“…Hydroxyapatite (HA) is the major mineral component of natural bone, and it is one of the most investigated and used inorganic biomaterials for bone regeneration. HA ceramics are biocompatible, with a high osteogenic potential and low biodegradability [6,7], but also possess poor mechanical properties, including brittleness, low fatigue, and mechanical stress resistance, restricting their clinical applications [8]. In the last decades, nanostructured hydroxyapatite (nano-HA) has been proposed as an alternative, since its morphology increases the contact area with the host, resulting in a higher biodegradability and higher biological activity, able to accelerate the bone regeneration process [9,10].…”