Preparation of Porous Poly(l-lactic acid) Composite Containing Hydroxyapatite Whiskers

Abstract

Abstract A new type of porous biomaterial for bone repair was successfully prepared using poly(l-lactic acid) short fibers of ≈700 μm and hydroxyapatite whiskers (W-HAs) of 60 μm (in average length). When W-HAs of ≤70 wt % were introduced, the composites could have about 80% porosity including numerous, interconnecting pores of >10 μm in diameter. W-HAs play an important role in formation of the pores, which allow penetration of nutriments and ingrowth of bone cells.