Photocurable poly(lactic acid) for use as tissue engineering scaffold

Polymers and polymer composites are one of the most interested biomaterials to replace the using of metals and ceramics. The main advantages of the polymer are that they are easier to custom made and they are bioresorbable. Their mechanical properties are unmatched when considered to replace metals or ceramics. A photocurable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) resin was developed in our laboratory for use as a tissue engineering scaffold by means of stereolithography (SLA) technique. The main goal of this work is to improve the mechanical properties of the samples made from the PLA resin. First, PLA resins are synthesized from two different isomers; L-Lactide and D,L- Lactide. Maximum flexural stress of the samples made from both resins is not statically significant but is almost double when compared with commercial bone cements. When L-Lactide resin is sterilized by gamma ray, the sterilization slightly increases both maximum flexural stress and flexural modulus. The degradation of the sterilized samples in 1X PBS at 37°C also improves in terms of mechanical properties. Adding of carbon nanotube functionalized with carboxyl group decreased the mechanical properties of the samples by 35%. From these results, the carbon nanotubes needed to be modified before adding to improve mechanical properties of the photocurable PLA.