In vitro degradation of porous poly(dl-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA)/bioactive glass composite foams with a polar structure

In vitro degradation of porous 50/50, 70/30 and 90/10 PLGA (poly(dl-lactide-co-glycolide)) foams and PLGA/bioactive glass (20 wt%) composite foams was studied up to 16 weeks in TRIS (pH 7.4; 37 °C). Polar PLGA/bioactive glass composite films were prepared by applying the bioactive glass (S53P4) on one side of the composite. Porous foams were made by solvent casting and pressure quenching with CO₂. The fabricated foams had an initial pore size of 50-500 μm and thickness of 2-2.5 mm. In vitro degradation of the prepared foams was evaluated after 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 16 weeks. Weight loss, water uptake, molecular mass and the amount of dissolved bioactive glass were measured after each time period. Changes in pore morphology were analysed with SEM. The present in vitro results will be evaluated and compared with the results from ongoing animal studies where comparable implants are used for bone defect treatment under non-load-bearing conditions.