Bioactive coatings by vaterite deposition on polymer substrates of different composition and morphology

Calcium carbonate particles of vaterite crystalline structure were deposited on the surface of polymer substrates of different chemistry and morphology by a slurry dipping technique using ethanol as a solvent. Artificial prosthetic fibrous ligaments (polyester-based) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) 3-dimensional foams of high porosity were selected as model polymer substrates. The vaterite coated polymers were immersed in simulated body fluid to induce the formation of homogeneous hydroxycarbonate apatite (HCA) layers on the polymer surfaces, which were detected by SEM and XRD. The method offers great potential for inducing bioactive behaviour to normally bioinert polymers. In this investigation, fibrous structures for orthopaedic ligaments and 3-D porous tissue engineering scaffolds were considered and the application of the vaterite coating technique demonstrated.