کد مقاله | کد نشریه | سال انتشار | مقاله انگلیسی | نسخه تمام متن |
---|---|---|---|---|
10927 | 708 | 2007 | 13 صفحه PDF | دانلود رایگان |
In this study, we present a novel composite scaffold fabricated using a thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) process from poly(lactic-co-glycolic) (PLGA) and biomedical polyurethane (PU). This processing method has been tuned to allow intimate (molecular) mixing of these two very different polymers, giving rise to a unique morphology that can be manipulated by controlling the phase separation behaviour of an initially homogenous polymer solution. Pure PLGA scaffolds possessed a smooth, directional fibrous sheet-like structure with pore sizes of 0.1–200 μm, a porous Young's modulus of 93.5 kPa and were relatively brittle to touch. Pure PU scaffolds had an isotropic emulsion-like structure, a porous Young's modulus of 15.7 kPa and were much more elastic than the PLGA scaffolds. The composite PLGA/PU scaffold exhibits advantageous morphological, mechanical and cell adhesion and growth supporting properties, when compared with scaffolds fabricated from PLGA or PU alone. This novel method provides a mechanism for the formation of tailored bioactive scaffolds from nominally incompatible polymers, representing a significant step forward in scaffold processing for tissue-engineering applications.
Journal: Biomaterials - Volume 28, Issue 12, April 2007, Pages 2109–2121