Recent Developments in Ring Opening Polymerization of Lactones for Biomedical Applications

At present, strong requirements in orthopaedics are still to be met, both in bone and joint substitution and in the repair and regeneration of bone defects. In this framework, tremendous advances in the biomaterials field have been made in the last 50 years where materials intended for biomedical purposes have evolved through three different generations, namely first generation (bioinert materials), second generation (bioactive and biodegradable materials) and third generation (materials designed to stimulate specific responses at the molecular level). In this review, the evolution of different metals, ceramics and polymers most commonly used in orthopaedic applications is discussed, as well as the different approaches used to fulfil the challenges faced by this medical field.

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsif.2008.0151

Biomaterials in orthopaedics.

Sol-gel based materials for biomedical applications

Advances in three-dimensional nanofibrous macrostructures via electrospinning

Biomaterials in total joint replacement.

Preparation of poly(lactic acid) composites containing calcium carbonate (vaterite).

Preparation of poly(l-lactic acid)-polysiloxane-calcium carbonate hybrid membranes for guided bone regeneration

Trace amounts of ionic calcium and silicon species have been reported to stimulate the proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of bone-forming cells. Composite materials comprising siloxane-doped calcium carbonate (vaterite) particles and poly(L-lactic acid) have been developed [siloxane-poly(lactic acid)-vaterite hybrid-composite, SiPVH] so far; they were designed such that calcium and silicate ions are gradually released from SiPVH and they show the chronic effects of ions on cellular activities. In the present work, SiPVH with a 3D cotton-like structure was prepared by electrospinning to obtain the major advantages of excellent bioactivity and ease of handling for bone filling surgery. The diameter of the fibrous skeletons that form structure of the cotton-like SiPVH was controlled to ~10 μm to achieve cellular migration into the spaces between fibers. The resulting cotton-like SiPVH showed good flexibility. The fiber surface was coated rapidly with numerous particles of several hundred nanometers in size by alternate soaking in CaCl(2) and Na(2)HPO(4). The treated cotton-like material, which released calcium and silicate ions gradually, showed good cellular migration behavior into the 3D structure in cell culture tests using murine osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells.

Siloxane-poly(lactic acid)-vaterite composites with 3D cotton-like structure.

Poly(lactic acid) composites containing a mixture of calcium carbonates (vaterite, aragonite, and calcite) were prepared by a carbonation process in methanol. Soaking of the composites for 3 h in simulated body fluid (SBF) at 37 °C resulted in the deposition of bonelike apatite particles on the composite surface. After soaking the composites, vaterite phase in the composites was forward to dissolve rapidly, resulting in increase the supersaturation of the apatite in SBF. 13C cross-polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (13C CP/MAS-NMR) spectra of the composites suggested the formation of a bond between Ca2+ ion and the COO- group, which induces the apatite nucleation. These results may elucidate the mechanism of means to reduce the induction period for apatite formation.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0884291400061161

Hirotaka Maeda

Papers

Preparation of poly(lactic acid) composites containing calcium carbonate (vaterite).

Preparation of poly(l-lactic acid)-polysiloxane-calcium carbonate hybrid membranes for guided bone regeneration

Siloxane-poly(lactic acid)-vaterite composites with 3D cotton-like structure.

Biomimetic apatite formation on poly(lactic acid) composites containing calcium carbonates

Preparation of bonelike apatite composite for tissue engineering scaffold