Bioabsorbable polymer plates coated with bioactive glass spheres.

In order to provide bioabsorbable self-reinforced poly (L/DL) lactide (P(L/DL)LA) 70 : 30 plates with osteoconductive bioactivity, spheres (125-250 microm) of a bioactive glass 13-93 were implanted onto a polymer plate preform by pressing. With appropriate pressing parameters glass spheres were firmly attached onto the polymer plate. The top of the glass spheres remained exposed. The bioactivity of the coated plates was examined in vitro with immersion in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Apatite was observed to precipitate on exposed glass sphere surfaces and the whole polymer surface within the first three days. Copyright 1999 Kluwer Academic Publishers