In Vitro Studies of Polylactic Acid/Polyhydroxyalkanoate/Eggshell Based Hydroxyapatite Biopolymer Composite for Bone Implant Applications.

Abstract

Bioactive implant materials are those that can chemically and mechanically interface with live bone. Even metals, ceramics, and polymers that are normally bio-inert can be made to exhibit this quality by undergoing certain surface treatments. Immersion experiments in SBF, whose composition is comparable to that of human plasma, can be used for in vitro testing. As a result, an apatite coating may grow on the surface of the material, and the existence of this bone-like "biomimetic skin" is thought to predict bone-bonding capacity in vivo. Hydroxyapatite is a potential bioactive substance for bone tissue development and repair. However, its poor hardness limits its use in load-bearing applications. Recent research indicates that polylactic acid and polyhydroxyalkanoate have potential biocompatibility and can be used in bone implant applications. The current research aims to create biomimetic polylacticacid/polyhydroxyalkanoate/hydroxyapatite composite for bone tissue applications by integrating the biological recognition of natural polymers with the distinct interconnecting porosity and bio imitating features of bone, such as hydroxyapatite. The resultant PLA/PHA/10%HAP biopolymer composite was analyzed for biocompatibility by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD analysis shows that the biopolymer composite's surface contains peaks indicative of an apatite phase. The development of an apatite layer is seen by SEM pictures. Ca/P ratio was calculated and found to be extremely near to 1.67, the value for original HAP, suggesting that EDX elemental analysis successfully confirmed the existence of calcium and phosphate components.