Preparation of Vaterite/Poly(lactic acid) Composites with Excellent Apatite-Forming Ability

A new type of ceramic-polymer biomaterial having excellent apatite-forming ability in simulated body fluid (SBF) was prepared by hot-pressing a mixture consisting of poly(-L-lactic acid)(PLA) and calcium carbonate (vaterite). The composite containing 30% vaterite showed no brittle fracture behavior and comparably high bending strength of ~50 MPa. Apatite layer of several micrometers in thickness formed on its surface after soaking in SBF at 37°C only for 1 day. Osteoclast culture tests showed that the composite coated with apatite has excellent bioresorbability. After incubation of human osteoblasts, mineralized bone nodule formation was seen on the surface.