Preparation and degradation characteristic study of bone repair composite of DL-polylactic acid/hydroxyapatite/decalcifying bone matrix

To explore the preparative method an d study the degradation characteristics of bone repair composite of DL polylac tic acid (PDLLA)/hydroxyapatite(HA)/decalcifying bone matrix (DBM) in vitro. Methods: An emulsion blend method was developed to prepare the composite of PDLLA/HA/DBM in weight ratio of PDLLA:HA:DBM= 1.5 2 : 1 1.5 : 1. The dynamic changes of weight, biomechanical property and pH value of PDLLA/ HA/DBM and PDLLA in phosphate buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4 ) were studied re spectively through degradation tests in vitro. Results: Without being heated, PDLLA, HA and DBM could be synt hesized with the emulsion blend method as bone composite of PDLLA/HA/DBM, which had both osteoconductive and osteoinductive effects. The diameter of the apertu re was 100 400 μm and the gap rate was 71.3 %. During degradation, the pH v alue of PDLLA solution decreased lightly within 2 weeks, but decreased obviously at the end of 4 weeks and the value was 4.0 . While the pH value of PDLLA/H A/DBM kept quite steady and was 6.4 at the end of 12 weeks. The weight of PDLLA changed little within 4 weeks, then changed obviously and was 50% of its initia l weight at the end of 12 weeks. While the weight of PDLLA/HA/DBM changed little within 5 weeks, then changed obviously and was 60% of the initial weight at the end of 12 weeks. The initial biomechanical strength of PDLLA was 1.33 MPa, decreased little within 3 weeks, then changed obviously and kept at 0.11 MP a at the end of 12 weeks. The initial biomechanical strength of PDLLA/HA/DBM was 1.7 MPa, decreased little within 4 weeks, then changed obviously and kept at 0.21 MPa at the end of 12 weeks. Conclusions: The emulsion blend method is a new method to prepa re bone repair materials. As a new bone repair material, PDLLA/HA/DBM is more su itable for regeneration and cell implantation, and the environment during its de gradation is advantageous to the growth of bone cells.