Abstract: To develop a novel degradable poly (L-lactic acid)/β-tricalcium phosphate (PLLA/β-TCP) bioactive materials for bone tissue engineering, β-TCP powder was produced by a new wet process. Porous scaffolds were prepared by three steps, i.e. solvent casting, compression molding and leaching stage. Factors influencing the compressive strength and the degradation behavior of the porous scaffold, e.g. weight fraction of pore forming agent-sodium chloride (NaCl), weight ratio of PLLA: β-TCP, the particle size of β-TCP and the porosity, were discussed in details. Rat marrow stromal cells (RMSC) were incorporated into the composite by tissue engineering approach. Biological and osteogenesis potential of the composite scaffold were determined with MTT assay, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and bone osteocalcin (OCN) content evaluation. Results show that PLLA/β-TCP bioactive porous scaffold has good mechanical and pore structure with adjustable compressive strength needed for surgery. RMSCs seeding on porous PLLA/β-TCP composite behaves good seeding efficacy, biocompatibility and osteoinductive potential. Osteoprogenitor cells could well penetrate into the material matrix and begin cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. Osseous matrix could be formed on the surface of the composite after culturing in vitro. It is expected that the PLLA/β-TCP porous composites are promising scaffolds for bone tissue engineering in prosthesis surgery.

Key words: β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), Poly (L-lactic acid)(PLLA)...