Preparation of poly(l-lactic acid)/β-tricalcium phosphate scaffold for bone tissue engineering without organic solvent

A new method was developed to prepare porous composite poly(l-lactic acid)/β-tricalcium phosphate (PLLA/β-TCP) scaffold. The method was composed of pressing the preheated mixtures of PLLA, β-TCP and salt particles in a stainless steel mold, followed by the second heating and molding, and leaching pore-forming agent. The fabricated scaffold has a homogeneously interconnected porous structure with high porosity and compressive strength. The immersion of PLLA/β-TCP in simulated body fluid (SBF) and in vitro osteoblasts culture indicate that the porous PLLA/β-TCP scaffold possesses good abilities of bone-like apatite formation and cell adhesion. As the new method does not use any organic solvent, it offers an advantage to avoid problems associated with organic solvent residue. It has a promising potentiality in preparing porous scaffold for bone tissue engineering.