| abstract |
A particle can include a hard core, and one or more polymeric shells encapsulating the core. The hard core can include hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, or combinations thereof. The one or more polymeric shells includes a biocompatible polymer, such as polycaprolactone, poly(glycolic acid) (PGA), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) ( PLGA), derivatives thereof, salts thereof, or combinations thereof. The particle can be a nanosphere or a microsphere. One or more bioactive agents can be encapsulated in or located on the one or more polymeric shells. One or more growth factors can be encapsulated in or located on the one or more polymeric shells. The growth factors include insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), a transforming growth factor, TGF-beta1, TGF-beta3, a bone morphogenetic protein, BMP-2, BMP-7, or combinations thereof. |