Preparation of a polyurethane scaffold for tissue engineering made by a combination of salt leaching and freeze-drying of dioxane

• Published in: Journal of materials science Vol. 41; no. 8; pp. 2423 - 2428
• Main Authors: HEIJKANTS, R. G. J. C, VAN TIENEN, T. G, DE GROOT, J. H, PENNINGS, A. J, BUMA, P, VETH, R. P. H, SCHOUTEN, A. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.04.2006; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Freeze drying; Leaching; Materials science; Mechanical properties; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Moisture content; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polyurethane resins; Pore size; Porosity; Porous materials; Scaffolds; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Technology of polymers; Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments; Tissue engineering; Tissue engineering; Use; Mechanical properties; Compressive strength; Scaffold; Experimental study; Property processing relationship; Porous material; Freeze thaw cycle; Structure processing relationship; Morphology; Polyurethane; Biomaterial; Manufacturing; Porosity
• ISSN: 0022-2461; 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1007/s10853-006-7065-y

In the past several types of synthetic porous materials have been made as meniscus reconstruction materials. Most of these materials lacked a good combination between suitable mechanical properties and a high interconnectivity. In this work porous scaffolds were made from the polyurethane Estane 5701-F1 by freeze drying of a dioxane and water solution in combination with salt leaching. It was possible to obtain very porous scaffolds with a very high interconnectivity. Porosity, pore size and interconnectivity can be independently adjusted by varying the amount of water, porogen size and the amount of porogen used. The obtained compression moduli of the scaffolds were between 40 kPa and 400 kPa with a variation in porosity between 72 and 87%. These scaffolds are very suitable for the use as meniscus replacement materials.