Mechanical and Degradation Studies on the Biodegradable Composites of a Polylactic Acid Matrix Reinforced by Tricalcium Phosphate and ZnO Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

This research focuses on the preparation of biodegradable composites of a polylactic acid (PLA) matrix reinforced with tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles for biomedical applications. Different concentrations of TCP and ZnO were used to prepare PLA/TCP, PLA/ZnO, and PLA/TCP/ZnO composites, and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra were measured to investigate their chemical compositions. The mechanical properties of the composites were tested, and their degradation behavior was examined in a phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution by monitoring the change in weight loss. The results showed that the addition of TCP improved the strength of the composite material, while ZnO improved its strength and ductility. The cumulative effect of TCP and ZnO nanoparticles in PLA can lead to a composite material with improved mechanical properties compared to pure PLA. The addition of TCP accelerates the decrease of the degradation rate of PLA and increases its mechanical strength, while the incorporation of ZnO can potentially accelerate degradation but also reinforce the mechanical properties. The novel PLA/30TCP/2ZnO composite showed optimum properties with a 51.47% increase in tensile strength, 42.62% increase in elongation at break, and 275.35% increase in degradation rate in terms of weight loss compared to pure PLA.