Development of degradable and bioactive composite as bone implants by incorporation of mesoporous bioglass into poly(l-lactide)

Bioactive composites containing mesoporous bioglass (MBG) and poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) for bone regeneration were fabricated by solution casting method. The results showed that the compressive strength and hydrophilicity of the MBG/PLLA composites significantly improved with the increase of MBG content. In addition, the weight loss ratio of the composites in Tris–HCl solution was obviously enhanced with the increase of MBG content. Moreover, the composite containing MBG could compensate for the decrease of pH value by neutralizing the acidic products from PLLA degradation in the Tris–HCl solution. Furthermore, the MBG/PLLA composites could induce apatite formation on their surfaces after soaked into simulated body fluid (SBF), indicating good bioactivity. In cell culture experiments, the results showed that the composite could enhance cell attachment, proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) of MC3T3-E1 cells, and the improvements were dependent on the MBG content in the composites. In short, the MBG/PLLA biocomposites with improved properties of hydrophilicity, degradability, bioactivity, neutralizing acidic degradable products and good cytocompatibility would be a promising orthopedic implant material for bone repair application.