A COMPARITIVE IN VITRO BIOACTIVY EVALUATION OF POLYVINYLIDENE FLUORIDE AND POLYCAPROLACTONE INCORPORATED WITH AMORPHOUS CALCIUM PHOSPHATE PARTICLES

A comparative study of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polycaprolactone (PCL) incorporated with particles of amorphous calcium phosphate on the induction of apatite formation ability in simulated body fluid (SBF)-biomimetic environment has been investigated. PVDF and PCL films containing amorphous calcium phosphate particles were fabricated using the solvent casting method. These amorphous calcium phosphate particles were highly active in inducing apatite formation. Results showed that both PCL and PVDF successfully resulted in apatite formation in SBF. However, it was found that the amount of amorphous calcium phosphate particles and the induction period of the apatite formation in SBF significantly varied for PVDF and PCL. These types of bioactive polymeric composite materials are attractive candidates as bone restorative materials with flexibility as well as high apatite forming ability.