Abstracts Posters SICOT-SOF meeting Gothenburg 2010 _2_

Poster
Topic: Biomaterials
Abstract number: 23915
COMPARISON OF PHYSICAL PROPERTIES BETWEEN COMMERCIAL
REINFORCED LIGAMENT (RESORBAID®) AND NEAT POLYLACTIC ACID
(PLA) PREPARED IN A LAB SCALE.
Theodoros BESLIKAS, Anastasios CHYTAS, George PAPAGEORGIOU, John
GIGIS, Dimitrios BIKIARIS, John CHRISTOFORIDES
2nd Orthopaedic Department Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki
(GREECE)
Introduction: There is a widespread use of biocombatible and biodegradable
polymers in orthopaedics. The most used polymer is poly-lactic acid (PLA).Aim: The
aim of the present work is the comparative study of reinforcement ligament
(Resorbaid®) with laboratory prepared PLA. Materials and Methods: In the present
work 10 materials of reinforcement ligament consisted of PLA (Resorbaid®) were
used in comparison with neat PLA prepared in a lab scale. The mechanical
properties were studied with an Instron 3344, while crystallization rates were
evaluated differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized light microscopy with
hot stage (HSM). The biodegradation rate of both materials was studied by
enzymatic hydrolysis. Results: The reinforced ligament has greater mechanical
properties compared with the laboratory prepared PLA. Both samples hydrolyze
relatively slowly, but the commercial sample shows a slightly faster hydrolysis.
Surface cracks appear in the samples due to the weight loss during hydrolysis. The
melting point of reinforced ligament is recorded at around 180oC, while in the case of
the laboratory made PLA around at 171oC. Also the reinforced ligament showed
faster isothermal crystallization at temperatures in the range 100-140oC, as well as
enhanced cold crystallization. Furthermore, it crystallized significantly on cooling from
the melt by 20oC/min, while laboratory made PLA did not crystallize. Conclusions:
Some additives of the commercial ligament may act as nucleating agents reducing
energy activation process of solidification. This may explain all the differences
between the two samples.
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