Application of Novel Knitted Fabric Structural Composites for Regenerative Medical Scaffold

Development of Tubular Knitted Fabric Composites Made of Biodegradable Polymers

Abstract

Medical scaffolds made of novel tubular knitted fabric composites were developed for the regeneration of alveolar bones. These composite scaffolds were made of high strength PLLA(poly .L-lactide) fiber and two types of coating polymers, PCL(poly ε-caprolactone) and PLGA(poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide)). Axial tensile and radial compressive properties of composite scaffolds were much higher than those of fabric structure without coating. The effect of coating polymer on biodegradability was investigated in PBS(Phosphate buffer saline) solution. While mechanical properties of scaffolds with PCL coating were rather insensitive to PBS immersion, those with PLGA coating were much higher in strength at initial stage, and then showed rapid decrease. Then, we can control mechanical and biodegradable properties of composite scaffolds to meet wide range medical design demand.