In vivo bone formation by and inflammatory response to resorbable polymer-nanoclay constructs

Nanocomposite materials consisting of organo-modified Montmorillonite clays (nanoclay) dispersed in resorbable polymer matrices via supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) processing have demonstrated surprising structural and compressive mechanical properties that make them candidates for bone graft substitute applications. In the present study, we demonstrate that these highly porous constructs exhibit the ability to facilitate in vivo, growth factor-induced bone formation. The in vivo inflammatory response elicited by the nanoclay-loaded constructs was similar to more traditional hydroxyapatite-based composite materials.235