Characterization of porous injectable poly-(propylene fumarate)-based bone graft substitute

✍ Scribed by Choll W. Kim; Robert Talac; Lichun Lu; Michael J. Moore; Bradford L. Currier; Michael J. Yaszemski

• Book ID: 102872194
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2008
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 553 KB
• Volume: 85A
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1549-3296
• DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.31633

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The use of bone grafts for orthopedic applications have increased steadily over the past decade. With improvements in surgical technique, combined with an increasing aged population requiring orthopedic treatment, the need for bone grafts substitutes have also increased. To be useful clinically, the bone graft substitute must be biocompatible, bioabsorbable, and have convenient handling properties. In addition, it must possess a microarchitecture that allows cellular ingrowth and remodeling while simultaneously providing mechanical strength. Poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) has been investigated as an injectable, biodegradable scaffold for orthopedic applications. Various methods to create a porous, interconnected polymer scaffold are available. The foaming technique is a convenient method to accomplish this task. Reactions between bicarbonate salts and weak acids generate CO~2~ gas, causing a bubbling reaction during the polymerization process. This technique allows the porosity of the scaffold to be modulated. Image analysis and mechanical testing of porous PPF fabricated using the foaming technique shows that a highly porous, interconnected scaffold can be produced. At ∼50% porosity, the scaffold has excellent handling properties, contains pore sizes ranging from 50 to 500 μm with an elastic modulus ranging from 20 to 40 MPa. The foaming technique provides an additional method by which clinically useful polymers can be fabricated for use in various bone tissue engineering applications. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2008