Kemik doku mühendisliği uygulamaları için poli(propilen fumarat) bazlı kompozitlerin hazırlanması ve karakterizasyonu

Poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) and vinyl phosphonic acid diethyl ester (VPES) based biodegradable and biocompatible polymeric composite systems which were designed to be used as scaffolds for bone tissue defects and tissue regeneration were developed in this study. Intended for this purpose, PPF pre-polymer was synthesized through a polycondensation reaction of propylene glycol and fumaric acid in an excess of propylene glycol. PPF pre-polymer was then cured with the VPES comonomer at body temperature (37oC) with fixed PPF:VPES weight ratio of 70:30, in the presence of benzoyl peroxide initiator, N,N-Dimethyl para-toluidine (DMT) which was utilized as catalyst and varying amounts of Beta-tricalcium phosphate (0-20 wt percent ß-TCP) as filler via radical polymerization to prepare biodegradable and biocompatible composite materials that can be used in injectable forms. The structure of the PPF pre-polymer was characterized via FT-IR and 1H-NMR spectroscopic techniques and molecular weight was determined via gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis. Complete cure of the body temperature cured PPF/VPES/ß-TCP composites was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal degradation profiles were characterized via thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Cross-link density was determined via swelling of composites in different solvents. The dispersion of ß-TCP particles in the polymer matrix was investigated via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Compressive properties were characterized by compression tests. Surface hydrophilicity of the prepared composite materials was analyzed via dynamic contact angle with water measurements. Equilibrium water content of the prepared composites was also determined. Biodegradation rates in PBS buffer solution (pH=7.4) at 37°C were examined via both weight loss and pH measurements for 80 days. All in all, data gathered during entire study implied that the prepared PPF/VPES/ß-TCP composites show significant potential to be used as scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering applications. This study was supported by TÜBİTAK (114M195).