Manufacturing of resorbable composite biomaterials containing protein

ABSTRACT

Three types of resorbable composite materials containing the protein phase were examined in the work. They were: 1 – PLA matrix/PLA fibers/albumin, 2 – PLA matrix/calcium alginate fibers/albumin, 3 – PLA matrix/calcium alginate capsules/albumin. The obtained composites were designed not only as biomaterials for filling bone defects but also to carry biologically active factors. Albumin was used as the model protein substance. In order to incorporate the protein, the composites were manufactured from the prepregs through a process of gluing them with a PLA solution and pressing at room temperature. The obtained results proved the effectiveness of these methods to apply albumin on PLA and alginate fibers. The obtained fibrous composites were porous enough to ensure the bone cells proliferation. The mechanical parameters of the fiber-modified composites improved and the reinforcement effect was more significant in the case of PLA fibers. The use of calcium alginate capsules as a PLA modifier allowed for the effective introduction of the protein phase into the composite structure. The tests proved the obtained composites to be suitable as biomaterials for filling bone defects which are also capable of delivering biologically active substances.

KEYWORDS:

• Biomaterials
• resorption
• composites
• protein
• carrier
• polylactide
• calcium alginate
• capsules
• fibers
• manufacturing
• cold pressing

Acknowledgments

This work was supported from the subsidy of the Ministry of Education and Science for the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków (Project No 16.16.160.557).

MSc Agnieszka (Piecek) Daszyńska is gratefully acknowledged for data acquisition and initial graphics preparation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the the subsidy of the Ministry of Education and Science for the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków [Project No 16.16.160.557].