Abstracts Category : Other

Application of poly(trimethylene carbonate) and calcium phosphate composite biomaterials in oral and maxillofacial surgery

by Ni Zeng

This thesis has been dedicated to explore the feasibilities of applying composite biomaterials to bone reconstruction in jawbones and skulls. The composite biomaterials used in our studies are composed of a polymer matrix and various calcium phosphate particles. The polymer matrix is made of a high-molecular-weight aliphatic polymer called poly(trimethylene carbonate),(PTMC) and it has taken different forms of membranes and disc-shaped porous scaffolds in different studies. The polymer of poly(trimethylene carbonate) possesses good mechanical properties for biomedical applications and can be degraded in vivo by enzymes via a surface erosion procedure. Thus, its good mechanical properties are maintained during degradation. The calcium phosphate particles used in our studies included -tricalcium phosphate and biphasic calcium phosphate, a mixture of -tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite at a ratio of 20:80. -tricalcium phosphate particles are known to conduct new bone formation in bone defects and biphasic calcium phosphate particles with micro pores have been shown to induce new bone formation. Although we did not find any positive effect of the composite materials on bone formation, the idea of incorporating calcium phosphate particles into PTMC matrices is promising. The optimal content of calcium phosphate particles in PTMC matrices needs to be determined to obtain composite materials which not only fill bone defects but also stimulate bone formation.Advisors/Committee Members: Bos, Rudolf, Grijpma, Dirk, Kuijer, Roelof, Bank, Ruud, Meijer, G.J., Schulten, EAJM.