Preparation and properties of polymeric and composite bioresorbable barrier membranes

Abstract

Bioresorbable barrier membranes have been widely used in dentistry and maxillofacial surgery. When the membranes are placed over bony defects and are closely adapted by the surrounding bone face, an environment that prevents invasion of competing non-osteogenetic cells from the overlying soft tissues can be created. The aim of the present study was to establish whether the production procedure of different polymeric and composite membranes affects their physicochemical properties. The physicochemical properties were examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), inverse gas chromatography (lGC) and tensile strength test (TST). The surface microstructure, dependent on the processing parameters, was perforated with smaller or larger pores. The dispersive component of the free surface energy decreased by adding bicalcium phosphate (BCP) to the polymer and, consequently, non-polar interactions with the surroundings became preferential.