Biodegradable polycaprolactone scaffold with controlled porosity obtained by modified particle-leaching technique

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine Vol. 19; no. 5; pp. 2047 - 2053
• Main Authors: Lebourg, M., Sabater Serra, R., Más Estellés, J., Hernández Sánchez, F., Gómez Ribelles, J. L., Suay Antón, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.05.2008; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Absorbable Implants; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biodegradation; Biomaterials; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Biomedical materials; Bone and Bones - metabolism; Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; Ceramics; Chemistry and Materials Science; Composites; Equipment Design; Glass; Materials Science; Materials Testing; Methylmethacrylates - chemistry; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Natural Materials; Polyesters - chemistry; Polymer Sciences; Polymers; Polymers - chemistry; Porosity; Regenerative Medicine/Tissue Engineering; Stress, Mechanical; Studies; Surface Properties; Surfaces and Interfaces; Tensile Strength; Thin Films; Tissue Engineering - methods; Tissues; PEMA; Pore Interconnectivity; Polycaprolactone; Pore Throat; Human Articular Cartilage
• ISSN: 0957-4530; 1573-4838
• DOI: 10.1007/s10856-007-3282-4

Scaffold with controlled porosity constitute a cornerstone in tissue engineering, as a physical support for cell adhesion and growth. In this work, scaffolds of polycaprolactone were synthesized by a modified particle leaching method in order to control porosity and pore interconnectivity; the aim is to observe their influence on the mechanical properties and, in the future, on cell adhesion and proliferation rates. Low molecular weight PEMA beads with an average size of 200 μm were sintered with various compression rates in order to obtain the templates (negatives of the scaffolds). Then the melt polycaprolactone was injected into the porous template under nitrogen pressure in a custom made device. After cooling and solidifying of the melt polymer, the porogen was removed by selective dissolution in ethanol. The porosity and morphology of the scaffold were studied as well as the mechanical properties. Porosities from 60% to 85% were reached; it was found that pore interconnectivity logically increases with increasing porosity, and that mechanical strength decreases with increasing porosity. Because of their interesting properties and interconnected structure, these scaffolds are expected to find useful applications as a cartilage or bone repair material.