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Composites of biodegradable phosphate glass fiber and polylactic acid (PGF/PLA) show potential for bone tissue engineering scaffolds, due to their ability to release Ca, P, and Mg during degradation, thus promoting the bone repair. Nevertheless, glass degradation tends to acidify the surrounding aqueous environment, which may adversely affect the viability and bone-forming activities of osteoblasts. In this work, MgO was investigated as a neutralizing agent. Porous network-phase gyroid scaffolds were additive-manufactured using four different materials: PLA, MgO/PLA, PGF/PLA, and (MgO + PGF)/PLA. The addition of PGF enhanced compressive properties of scaffolds, and the resultant scaffolds were comparably strong and stiff with human trabecular bone. While the degradation of PGF/PLA composite induced considerable acidity in degradation media and intensified the degradation of PGF in return, the degradation media of (MgO + PGF)/PLA maintained a neutral pH close to a physiological environment. The experiment results indicated the possible mechanism of MgO as the neutralizing agent: the local acidity was buffered as the MgO reacted with the acidic degradation products thereby inhibiting the degradation of PGF from being intensified in an acidic environment. The (MgO + PGF)/PLA composite scaffold appears to be a candidate for bone tissue engineering.

Phosphate glass/polylactide (PG/PLA) composites were additively manufactured via fused deposition modeling. The incorporation of 10 wt % PG particles improved the flexural modulus of composites by ~14% (3.53 GPa) but led to 5% reduction in flexural strength (92.4 MPa). The trend was more pronounced as the particle loading doubled. Comparing to a particulate composite of the same weight fraction, milled PG fibers (PGFs) reinforcement led to more effectively improved flexural modulus (~30%, 4.10 GPa). After 28 days of in vitro degradation in phosphate buffered saline, the particulate composites lost more than 30% of their initial mechanical properties, in contrast to less than 10% reduction of strength/modulus reported from fiber reinforced composites. The additively manufactured PG/PLA matrix composites have potential for application as customized bone fixation plates to repair the fractures under modest load‐bearing applications. © 2019 The Authors. Journal of Applied Polymer Science published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 48171.

Fibre reinforced composites (FRC) have shown great potential for the application of internal bone fixation due to mechanical properties that are similar to those of human cortical bones. Ternary composites of silica glass fibres, nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA) and polylactic acid (PLA) were prepared by compression moulding and their mechanical properties were characterized in this study. With the volumetric content of glass fibre remained constantly at 30% and the volume fraction of n-HA increased from 0% to 5%, the flexural strengths of composites decreased from 625.68 MPa to 206.55 MPa, whereas a gradual increment of flexural modulus from 11.01 to 14.08 GPa were observed at the same time. Within a 28-day degradation period, the flexural strengths decreased by 30%, while no obvious trend of modulus variation was found. The flexural properties of all composites prepared in this study were all found to be close to the reported flexural properties. On the other hand, as more n-HA were incorporated, the water absorption percentages increased, whereas negligible mass loss were recorded. SEM images revealed that the impregnation of fibre mats was poor as loose fibres were observed, which shall be solved in future research to further improve the mechanical properties as well as endurance against degradation. © 2017 International Committee on Composite Materials. All rights reserved.

Composites of biodegradable phosphate glass fiber and polylactic acid (PGF/PLA) show potential for bone tissue engineering scaffolds, due to their ability to release Ca, P, and Mg during degradation, thus promoting the bone repair. Nevertheless, glass degradation tends to acidify the surrounding aqueous environment, which may adversely affect the viability and bone-forming activities of osteoblasts. In this work, MgO was investigated as a neutralizing agent. Porous network-phase gyroid scaffolds were additive-manufactured using four different materials: PLA, MgO/PLA, PGF/PLA, and (MgO + PGF)/PLA. The addition of PGF enhanced compressive properties of scaffolds, and the resultant scaffolds were comparably strong and stiff with human trabecular bone. While the degradation of PGF/PLA composite induced considerable acidity in degradation media and intensified the degradation of PGF in return, the degradation media of (MgO + PGF)/PLA maintained a neutral pH close to a physiological environment. The experiment results indicated the possible mechanism of MgO as the neutralizing agent: the local acidity was buffered as the MgO reacted with the acidic degradation products thereby inhibiting the degradation of PGF from being intensified in an acidic environment. The (MgO + PGF)/PLA composite scaffold appears to be a candidate for bone tissue engineering.

Phosphate glass/polylactide (PG/PLA) composites were additively manufactured via fused deposition modeling. The incorporation of 10 wt % PG particles improved the flexural modulus of composites by ~14% (3.53 GPa) but led to 5% reduction in flexural strength (92.4 MPa). The trend was more pronounced as the particle loading doubled. Comparing to a particulate composite of the same weight fraction, milled PG fibers (PGFs) reinforcement led to more effectively improved flexural modulus (~30%, 4.10 GPa). After 28 days of in vitro degradation in phosphate buffered saline, the particulate composites lost more than 30% of their initial mechanical properties, in contrast to less than 10% reduction of strength/modulus reported from fiber reinforced composites. The additively manufactured PG/PLA matrix composites have potential for application as customized bone fixation plates to repair the fractures under modest load‐bearing applications. © 2019 The Authors. Journal of Applied Polymer Science published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 48171.

Fibre reinforced composites (FRC) have shown great potential for the application of internal bone fixation due to mechanical properties that are similar to those of human cortical bones. Ternary composites of silica glass fibres, nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA) and polylactic acid (PLA) were prepared by compression moulding and their mechanical properties were characterized in this study. With the volumetric content of glass fibre remained constantly at 30% and the volume fraction of n-HA increased from 0% to 5%, the flexural strengths of composites decreased from 625.68 MPa to 206.55 MPa, whereas a gradual increment of flexural modulus from 11.01 to 14.08 GPa were observed at the same time. Within a 28-day degradation period, the flexural strengths decreased by 30%, while no obvious trend of modulus variation was found. The flexural properties of all composites prepared in this study were all found to be close to the reported flexural properties. On the other hand, as more n-HA were incorporated, the water absorption percentages increased, whereas negligible mass loss were recorded. SEM images revealed that the impregnation of fibre mats was poor as loose fibres were observed, which shall be solved in future research to further improve the mechanical properties as well as endurance against degradation. © 2017 International Committee on Composite Materials. All rights reserved.

Composites of biodegradable phosphate glass fiber and polylactic acid (PGF/PLA) show potential for bone tissue engineering scaffolds, due to their ability to release Ca, P, and Mg during degradation, thus promoting the bone repair. Nevertheless, glass degradation tends to acidify the surrounding aqueous environment, which may adversely affect the viability and bone-forming activities of osteoblasts. In this work, MgO was investigated as a neutralizing agent. Porous network-phase gyroid scaffolds were additive-manufactured using four different materials: PLA, MgO/PLA, PGF/PLA, and (MgO + PGF)/PLA. The addition of PGF enhanced compressive properties of scaffolds, and the resultant scaffolds were comparably strong and stiff with human trabecular bone. While the degradation of PGF/PLA composite induced considerable acidity in degradation media and intensified the degradation of PGF in return, the degradation media of (MgO + PGF)/PLA maintained a neutral pH close to a physiological environment. The experiment results indicated the possible mechanism of MgO as the neutralizing agent: the local acidity was buffered as the MgO reacted with the acidic degradation products thereby inhibiting the degradation of PGF from being intensified in an acidic environment. The (MgO + PGF)/PLA composite scaffold appears to be a candidate for bone tissue engineering.

Fibre reinforced composites (FRC) have shown great potential for the application of internal bone fixation due to mechanical properties that are similar to those of human cortical bones. Ternary composites of silica glass fibres, nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA) and polylactic acid (PLA) were prepared by compression moulding and their mechanical properties were characterized in this study. With the volumetric content of glass fibre remained constantly at 30% and the volume fraction of n-HA increased from 0% to 5%, the flexural strengths of composites decreased from 625.68 MPa to 206.55 MPa, whereas a gradual increment of flexural modulus from 11.01 to 14.08 GPa were observed at the same time. Within a 28-day degradation period, the flexural strengths decreased by 30%, while no obvious trend of modulus variation was found. The flexural properties of all composites prepared in this study were all found to be close to the reported flexural properties. On the other hand, as more n-HA were incorporated, the water absorption percentages increased, whereas negligible mass loss were recorded. SEM images revealed that the impregnation of fibre mats was poor as loose fibres were observed, which shall be solved in future research to further improve the mechanical properties as well as endurance against degradation. © 2017 International Committee on Composite Materials. All rights reserved.

Phosphate glass/polylactide (PG/PLA) composites were additively manufactured via fused deposition modeling. The incorporation of 10 wt % PG particles improved the flexural modulus of composites by ~14% (3.53 GPa) but led to 5% reduction in flexural strength (92.4 MPa). The trend was more pronounced as the particle loading doubled. Comparing to a particulate composite of the same weight fraction, milled PG fibers (PGFs) reinforcement led to more effectively improved flexural modulus (~30%, 4.10 GPa). After 28 days of in vitro degradation in phosphate buffered saline, the particulate composites lost more than 30% of their initial mechanical properties, in contrast to less than 10% reduction of strength/modulus reported from fiber reinforced composites. The additively manufactured PG/PLA matrix composites have potential for application as customized bone fixation plates to repair the fractures under modest load‐bearing applications. © 2019 The Authors. Journal of Applied Polymer Science published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 48171.

Phosphate glass/polylactide (PG/PLA) composites were additively manufactured via fused deposition modeling. The incorporation of 10 wt % PG particles improved the flexural modulus of composites by ~14% (3.53 GPa) but led to 5% reduction in flexural strength (92.4 MPa). The trend was more pronounced as the particle loading doubled. Comparing to a particulate composite of the same weight fraction, milled PG fibers (PGFs) reinforcement led to more effectively improved flexural modulus (~30%, 4.10 GPa). After 28 days of in vitro degradation in phosphate buffered saline, the particulate composites lost more than 30% of their initial mechanical properties, in contrast to less than 10% reduction of strength/modulus reported from fiber reinforced composites. The additively manufactured PG/PLA matrix composites have potential for application as customized bone fixation plates to repair the fractures under modest load‐bearing applications. © 2019 The Authors. Journal of Applied Polymer Science published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 48171.

Composites of biodegradable phosphate glass fiber and polylactic acid (PGF/PLA) show potential for bone tissue engineering scaffolds, due to their ability to release Ca, P, and Mg during degradation, thus promoting the bone repair. Nevertheless, glass degradation tends to acidify the surrounding aqueous environment, which may adversely affect the viability and bone-forming activities of osteoblasts. In this work, MgO was investigated as a neutralizing agent. Porous network-phase gyroid scaffolds were additive-manufactured using four different materials: PLA, MgO/PLA, PGF/PLA, and (MgO + PGF)/PLA. The addition of PGF enhanced compressive properties of scaffolds, and the resultant scaffolds were comparably strong and stiff with human trabecular bone. While the degradation of PGF/PLA composite induced considerable acidity in degradation media and intensified the degradation of PGF in return, the degradation media of (MgO + PGF)/PLA maintained a neutral pH close to a physiological environment. The experiment results indicated the possible mechanism of MgO as the neutralizing agent: the local acidity was buffered as the MgO reacted with the acidic degradation products thereby inhibiting the degradation of PGF from being intensified in an acidic environment. The (MgO + PGF)/PLA composite scaffold appears to be a candidate for bone tissue engineering.

Fibre reinforced composites (FRC) have shown great potential for the application of internal bone fixation due to mechanical properties that are similar to those of human cortical bones. Ternary composites of silica glass fibres, nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA) and polylactic acid (PLA) were prepared by compression moulding and their mechanical properties were characterized in this study. With the volumetric content of glass fibre remained constantly at 30% and the volume fraction of n-HA increased from 0% to 5%, the flexural strengths of composites decreased from 625.68 MPa to 206.55 MPa, whereas a gradual increment of flexural modulus from 11.01 to 14.08 GPa were observed at the same time. Within a 28-day degradation period, the flexural strengths decreased by 30%, while no obvious trend of modulus variation was found. The flexural properties of all composites prepared in this study were all found to be close to the reported flexural properties. On the other hand, as more n-HA were incorporated, the water absorption percentages increased, whereas negligible mass loss were recorded. SEM images revealed that the impregnation of fibre mats was poor as loose fibres were observed, which shall be solved in future research to further improve the mechanical properties as well as endurance against degradation. © 2017 International Committee on Composite Materials. All rights reserved.

Composites of biodegradable phosphate glass fiber and polylactic acid (PGF/PLA) show potential for bone tissue engineering scaffolds, due to their ability to release Ca, P, and Mg during degradation, thus promoting the bone repair. Nevertheless, glass degradation tends to acidify the surrounding aqueous environment, which may adversely affect the viability and bone-forming activities of osteoblasts. In this work, MgO was investigated as a neutralizing agent. Porous network-phase gyroid scaffolds were additive-manufactured using four different materials: PLA, MgO/PLA, PGF/PLA, and (MgO + PGF)/PLA. The addition of PGF enhanced compressive properties of scaffolds, and the resultant scaffolds were comparably strong and stiff with human trabecular bone. While the degradation of PGF/PLA composite induced considerable acidity in degradation media and intensified the degradation of PGF in return, the degradation media of (MgO + PGF)/PLA maintained a neutral pH close to a physiological environment. The experiment results indicated the possible mechanism of MgO as the neutralizing agent: the local acidity was buffered as the MgO reacted with the acidic degradation products thereby inhibiting the degradation of PGF from being intensified in an acidic environment. The (MgO + PGF)/PLA composite scaffold appears to be a candidate for bone tissue engineering.

Phosphate glass/polylactide (PG/PLA) composites were additively manufactured via fused deposition modeling. The incorporation of 10 wt % PG particles improved the flexural modulus of composites by ~14% (3.53 GPa) but led to 5% reduction in flexural strength (92.4 MPa). The trend was more pronounced as the particle loading doubled. Comparing to a particulate composite of the same weight fraction, milled PG fibers (PGFs) reinforcement led to more effectively improved flexural modulus (~30%, 4.10 GPa). After 28 days of in vitro degradation in phosphate buffered saline, the particulate composites lost more than 30% of their initial mechanical properties, in contrast to less than 10% reduction of strength/modulus reported from fiber reinforced composites. The additively manufactured PG/PLA matrix composites have potential for application as customized bone fixation plates to repair the fractures under modest load‐bearing applications. © 2019 The Authors. Journal of Applied Polymer Science published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 48171.

Phosphate glass/polylactic acid (PG/PLA) composites are prospective materials for biodegradable bone fracture fixation plates as well as bone tissue engineering scaffolds. However, the PG/PLA composites previously fabricated do not have either the geometry that precisely matches the bone anatomy or the interconnected porous structure that favours the colonisation of bone-forming cells. This work explores the additive manufacturing of PG/PLA composites via fused deposition modelling (FDM). PG in the form of particles (PGP) and milled fibres (PGF) were incorporated into PLA, and then melt-extruded into filament feedstocks for FDM. The FDM-fabricated composites were first studied for their potential for bone fracture fixation devices. Incorporation of PGP or PGF led to reduced flexural strength but increased flexural modulus of composites. Comparing to PGP, the PGF was more effective to improve the flexural modulus, and the resultant composites showed better resistance to in-vitro degradation. The PGF reinforced composites had mechanical properties comparable to biodegradable fixation devices used in clinical practice. The filament preparation process had a strong impact on the length of fibres in FDM products. The longer fibres preserved in FDM products also elicited a higher degree of alignment with the direction of material extrusion during FDM. The fibre alignment and fibre length collectively enhanced the mechanical properties of composites. The FDM-fabricated composites were also investigated as bone tissue engineering scaffolds. The incorporation of PG reinforcement led to enhanced compressive properties and increased surface roughness. However, the strong acidity due to locally accumulated acidic degradation products may result in inferior viability of osteoblast-like cells comparing to PLA-only scaffolds. MgO was added to the PGF/PLA composites as a buffering agent. Its incorporation led to slightly reduced compressive properties, but enhanced surface hydrophi

Fibre reinforced composites (FRC) have shown great potential for the application of internal bone fixation due to mechanical properties that are similar to those of human cortical bones. Ternary composites of silica glass fibres, nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA) and polylactic acid (PLA) were prepared by compression moulding and their mechanical properties were characterized in this study. With the volumetric content of glass fibre remained constantly at 30% and the volume fraction of n-HA increased from 0% to 5%, the flexural strengths of composites decreased from 625.68 MPa to 206.55 MPa, whereas a gradual increment of flexural modulus from 11.01 to 14.08 GPa were observed at the same time. Within a 28-day degradation period, the flexural strengths decreased by 30%, while no obvious trend of modulus variation was found. The flexural properties of all composites prepared in this study were all found to be close to the reported flexural properties. On the other hand, as more n-HA were incorporated, the water absorption percentages increased, whereas negligible mass loss were recorded. SEM images revealed that the impregnation of fibre mats was poor as loose fibres were observed, which shall be solved in future research to further improve the mechanical properties as well as endurance against degradation. © 2017 International Committee on Composite Materials. All rights reserved.