Influence of surface treatment and biomimetic hydroxyapatite coating on the mechanical properties of hydroxyapatite/poly(L-lactic acid) fibers

Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) micro-fibers have been coated with hydroxyapatite (HA) using a quick biomimetic method to form a precursor for bone repair composites. To increase the coating content within a coating time as short as 1-2.5 h, PLLA fibers have been treated by soaking in NaOH or NaOCl solutions at mild conditions. Although different surface hydrolysis and coating methods have been used to prepare bioceramic/polymer composites, it is for the first time that the influences of the surface treatment and HA coating process on the mechanical properties of the polymer and HA/polymer composite fibers were investigated systemically.