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Characterization of compressive deformation behavior of multi-layer porous composite materials for articular tissue engineering

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Abstract

Regeneration of articular layered tissues consisting of cartilage and cancellous bone has been a critical issue in orthopedics. Tissue engineering technology for such large-scale damaged layered tissue may be developed by using layered scaffold with stem cells. In this study, therefore, a novel multi-layer scaffold consisting of a porous poly (ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) layer for cartilage regeneration and a porous composite layer of poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and hydroxyapatite (HAp) for bone regeneration was developed. The microstructure of the scaffold was characterized by a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). Compression tests were also performed to understand the stress-strain behavior. FE-SEM observation clearly showed that an interlayer exists between the PCL and the composite layers. The compressive stress-strain relation is characterized by a stepwise behavior including the first and the second steps. The first modulus corresponding to the first step is mainly related to the deformation of the PCL layer; on the other hand, the second modulus is related to both solidified PCL layer and the composite layer and increases with increase of HAp content of the composite layer. It is also found that the classical mechanics theory and three-dimensional finite element model can predict the first modulus reasonably well.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-koen, Kasuga, 816-8580, Japan

    Sunghyen Hwang

  2. Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-koen, Kasuga, 816-8580, Japan

    Mitsugu Todo

Authors
  1. Sunghyen Hwang
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Correspondence to Mitsugu Todo.

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Recommended by Guest Editor Dong-Ho Bae

Mitsugu Todo is currently an associate professor at the Research Institute for Applied Mechanics at Kyushu University. He received his Ph.D (1995) in the Department of Civil Engineering from Ohio State University, USA. Current research interests are in biomechanics and biomaterials for regenerative medicine and arthroplasties.

Sunghyen Hwang is currently a Ph.D candidate in the Department of Molecular and Material Sciences at Kyushu University, Japan. He received his BS (2004) and MS (2008) degrees in the Department of Mechatronics Engineering from Tongmyong University in Busan, Korea. Current research interests are in the biomimetic design and fabrication of layered scaffold for tissues regeneration.

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Hwang, S., Todo, M. Characterization of compressive deformation behavior of multi-layer porous composite materials for articular tissue engineering. J Mech Sci Technol 26, 1999–2004 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-012-0502-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-012-0502-8

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