Preparation and properties of polylactide/hydroxyapatite/polydopamine composites

A series of poly(lactic acid)/hydroxyapatite/polydopamine (PLA/HA/PDA) composites were fabricated via soution blending and casting method using CH 2 Cl 2 as solvents. The physicochemical properties of the resulting composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Rheological analysis. Particularly, the in vitro degradation, hydrophilic of PLA/HA/PDA composites was systematically investigated. The influences of DA content on thermal stabilities, hydrophilic, and rheological behavior properties of composites were evaluated. The results showed that the addition of DA and HA not only improved the thermal stability of PLA, but also improved the hydrophilic of PLA-based composites. The obtained PLA/HA/PDA composites may be a promising material for load-bearing orthopedic implants. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 58:2256–2263, 2018. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers