Tissue engineering is a growing field where new materials are being
developed for implantation into the body. One important area involves
bone graft materials to replace areas of bone lost to trauma or disease.
Traditionally, graft material may be harvested from the bone of the
individual receiving the graft material. However, this requires an
additional surgery and additional recovery. Bone also may be taken from
others, or even cadavers, but this introduces biocompatibility problems
as well as the risk of disease transfer. Ideally, a biocompatible
material is sought that will act as a filler with appropriate mechanical
strength, encourage bone healing, and degrade to allow new bone ingrowth
without the risk of disease transfer. The present invention is a new
composite bone graft material made from biocompatible
poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and nano-sized hydroxyapatite
particles exposed on its surface using a gas foaming particle leaching
(GF/PL) method. A further embodiment of this invention involves coating
this PLGA/hydroxyapatite biomaterial with an adherent, fast, uniform
coating of a mineral such as apatite. The PLGA polymer portion of the
composite provides sufficient mechanical strength to replace bone and is
degradable over time to allow new bone tissue ingrowth. The incorporated
hydroxyapatite particles increase the composite material's osteogenic
properties by providing sites for tissue attachment and propagation.
Finally, a uniform coating of mineral apatite on the surface of this
novel biomaterial composite further enhances its osteogenic qualities.