Chemical interaction in β-tricalcium phosphate/copolymerized poly-L-lactide composites

For the development of a novel biodegradable membrane useful for surgical operations, the chemical interaction between beta-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and copolymerized poly-L-lactide (CPLA) in the TCP/CPLA composites was investigated by Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA),From FT-IR measurements, chemical interaction between Ca2+ in TCP and Odelta- of ester C = O double bonds in CPLA was detected as the red shift of C = O stretching vibration mode. DMA measurements showed that the storage and loss elastic moduli of the composites increased with increasing in TCP content, corresponding to the strength change in Ca2+... Odelta- (= Cdelta+) interaction, though glass-transition and softening temperatures did not change. The mechanical and thermoplastic properties of the composites were highly suitable for a guided-bone-regeneration membrane.