Preparation and characterization of biodegradable poly(D,L-lactide) and surface-modified bioactive glass composites as bone repair materials.

In order to improve filler dispersion and phase compatibility between poly(D,L-lactide) (PDLLA) and inorganic bioactive glass (BG) particles, and to enhance the mechanical properties of PDLLA/BG composites, the silane coupling agent 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH570) was used to modify the surface of BG particles (represented by KBG). The structure and properties of PDLLA/BG and PDLLA/KBG composites were investigated by mechanical property testing and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This study demonstrated that the Guth and Gold models can be combined to predict the Young's modulus of the composites. The Pukanszky modulus showed that the interaction parameter B of PDLLA/KBG composites was higher than that of the PDLLA/BG, which indicates that there is a higher interfacial interaction between the PDLLA and KBG. The composites were incubated in simulated body fluid (SBF) at 37 degrees C to study the in vitro degradation and bioactivity of the composites and to detect bone-like apatite formation on their surfaces.