Papers by Author: Yun Qing Kang

Abstract: 5-Fluorouracil-poly(L-lactide) (5-Fu-PLLA) microspheres have been co-precipitated in a process namely solution-enhanced dispersion by supercritical CO2 (SEDS). First, the 5-Fu is successfully micronized and then used to produce the 5-Fu-PLLA microspheres. The 5-Fu-PLLA microspheres synthesized in the SEDS process exhibited a rather spherical shape, smooth surface, and a narrow particle size distribution, where it ranged from 531 nm to 1280 nm, with a mean particle size of 793 nm. The dichloromethane residue in the 5-Fu-PLLA microspheres is 46 ppm. The average drug load of the 5-Fu-PLLA microspheres is 12.7%. The results of this study indicate that the SEDS process is an effective technique to co-precipitate 5-Fu and PLLA as composite microspheres.

Abstract: Poly-L-lactide/β-tricalcium phosphate (PLLA/β-TCP) porous scaffold fabricated by freeze shrinking/particulate leaching was studied. The scaffold was immersed into simulated body fluid (SBF) for 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks and analyzed by the SEM, XRD and FT-IR spectroscopy. The ability of inducing Ca-P formation was compared among the scaffolds with different content of β- TCP. SEM shows a typical feature of apatite precipitation. Diffraction peak of new crystal structure was detected by x-ray diffraction (XRD). IR Spectrum in which absorption bands arise from newly formed groups of carbonate apatite can be seen. At the same testing point, higher density of Ca-P crystal can be observed by SEM in scaffold with high content of β-TCP than in low group. Until 3 weeks, Ca-P individual crystal started on the wall of inner pore of pure PLLA. Porous PLLA/β-TCP composite scaffolds also indicate good ability of Ca-P formation in vitro, the ability of which to form apatite was enhanced by addition of each other that has different degradable mechanism.

Abstract: In bone tissue engineering, porous scaffolds served as the temporary matrix are often subjected to mechanical stress when implanted in the body. Based on this fact, the goal of this study was to examine the effects of mechanical loading on the in vitro degradation characteristics and kinetics of porous scaffolds in a custom-designed loading system. Porous Poly(L-lactic acid)/β-Tricalcium Phosphate (PLLA/β-TCP) composite scaffolds fabricated by using solution casting/compression molding/particulate leaching technique (SCP) were subjected to degradation in simulated body fluid (SBF) at 37°C for up to 6 weeks under the conditions: with and without static compressive loading, respectively. The results indicated that the increase of the porosity and decrease of the compressive strength under static compressive loading were slower than that of non-loading case, and so did the mass loss rate. It might be due to that the loading retarded the penetration, absorption and transfer of simulated body fluid. These data provide an important step towards understanding mechanical loading factors contributing to degradation.

Abstract: In this paper, the adsorption of human serum albumin (HSA), human serum fibrinogen (HFG) and human serum immune globulin (IG) on surfaces of diamond like carbon film (DLC), diamond film (DF) and graphite has been studied. The adsorption isotherms of single component protein solution and the competitive adsorption of binary system have been investigated by radioisotope 125 I labeling method. Results showed that (1) the adsorptive amounts of HSA on DLC is more than that of HFG, but the adsorptive amounts of HFG on DF and graphite are apparently more than those HSA; (2) the relative competitive adsorption ability of three proteins on DF and graphite surfaces is HFG > IG > HSA, but that on DLC is HFG ≈ HAS > IG, comparison with HSA, there is no apparent competitive adsorption superiority on DLC for HFG. These results indicated that there is no apparent distinction for the adsorption of three human serum proteins on DLC, but the adsorption of HFG on DF and graphite takes precedence in varying degrees. It probably makes rational explanation for the result of blood-compatibility tests in vitro that DLC is good, but DF and graphite are worse.

Abstract: Degradation of surface modified β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and poly L lactic acid (PLLA) composite scaffolds were investigated in vitro. Bending and compressive strengths were tested by electromechanical universal material testing machine. Molecular weight changes of lactic acid during degradation were measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Phase composition of the surface after soaking was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared ray (FTIR). The surface and cross section of scaffold samples after degradation were observed by Scanning electron microscope (SEM).The results show that degradation speed can be controlled by adjusting the ratio of β-TCP to PLLA in the composite. PLLA can compound more closely with surface modified β-TCP than with non-modified one. The final compressive strength and bending strength of the scaffolds reach 7.11MPa and 2.20MPa respectively, which satisfies the need for bone tissue engineering scaffolds in clinic applications.

Abstract: The ability of apatite to form on the surface of biomaterials in simulated body fluid (SBF) has been widely used to predict the bone-bonding ability of bioceramic and bioceramic/polymer composites in vivo. Porous β-tricalcium phosphate/poly(L-lactic acid) (β-TCP/PLLA) composite scaffold was synthesized by new method. The ability of inducing calcium phosphate (Ca-P) formation was compared in static simulated body fluid(sSBF) and dynamic simulated body fluid (dSBF). The Ca-P morphology and crystal structures were identified using SEM, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The results showed that the typical features of bone-like apatite formation on the surface and the inner pore wall of β-TCP/PLLA. Ca-P formation on scaffold surfaces in dSBF occurred slower than in sSBF and was more difficult with increasing flow rate of dSBF. The ability of apatite to form on β-TCP/PLLA was enhanced by effect of each other that has different degradable mechanism. Porous β-TCP/PLLA composite scaffold indicates good ability of Ca-P formation in vitro.

Abstract: Merwinite powders were synthesized by a sol-gel process. The bioactivity in vitro of merwinite was investigated by soaking the powders in simulated body fluid (SBF), the growth of hydroxyapatite(HAp) on the surface of the powder was evaluated in various time. It was found that hydroxyapatite was formed after soaking for 14 days. The results indicate that merwinite possessed apatite-formation ability might be a potential candidate biomaterial for hard tissue repair.

Abstract: To increase the mechanical properties of PLA used for fracture inner fixation, β-calcium metaphosphate whiskers were prepared by controlled crystallization in the glass. The factors influencing the morphology of the samples, such as component, time and temperature of crystallization were discussed. Results showed that the high quality of β-calcium metaphosphate whiskers can be obtained by crystallization treating for 36 hours and washing for 48 hours at 80°C distilled water. β-calcium metaphosphate whiskers having high aspect ratios of 20-100 with diameters of 1-5μm were achieved at the optimized conditions.