Long-term in vitro degradation of PDLLA/Bioglass® bone scaffolds in acellular simulated body fluid

The long-term (600 days) in vitro degradation of highly porous poly(d,l-lactide) (PDLLA)/Bioglass®-filled composite foams developed for bone tissue engineering scaffolds has been investigated in simulated body fluid (SBF). Foams of ∼93% porosity were produced by thermally induced phase separation (TIPS). The degradation profile for foams of neat PDLLA and the influence of Bioglass® addition were comprehensively assessed in terms of changes in dimensional stability, pore morphology, weight loss, molecular weight and mechanical properties (dry and wet states). It is shown that the degradation process proceeded in several stages: (a) a quasi-stable stage, where water absorption and plasticization occurred together with weight loss due to Bioglass® particle loss and dissolution, resulting in decreased wet mechanical properties; (b) a stage showing a slight increase in the wet mechanical properties and a moderate decrease in dimensions, with the properties remaining moderately constant until the onset of significant weight loss, whilst molecular weight continued to decrease; (c) an end stage of massive weight loss, disruption of the pore structure and the formation of blisters and embrittlement of the scaffold (evident on handling). The findings from this long-term in vitro degradation investigation underpin studies that have been and continue to be performed on highly porous poly(α-hydroxyesters) scaffolds filled with bioactive glasses for bone tissue engineering applications.