Porous biodegradable polymeric scaffolds prepared by thermally induced phase separation.
Poly(L-lactic acid) and its copolymers with D-lactic and glycolic acid were used to fabricate various porous biodegradable scaffolds suitable for tissue engineering and drug delivery based on a thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) technique. A variety of parameters involved in TIPS process, such as types of polymers, polymer concentration, solvent/nonsolvent ratio, and quenching temperature, were examined in detail to produce a wide array of micro- and macroporous structures. A mixture of dioxane and water was used for a binary composition of solvent and nonsolvent, respectively. In particular, the coarsening effect of pore enlargement affected by controlling the quenching temperature was used for the generation of a macroporous open cellular structure with pore diameters above 100 microm. The use of amorphous polymers with a slow cooling rate resulted in a macroporous open cellular structure, whereas that of semicrystalline polymers with a fast cooling rate generated a microporous closed cellular structure. The fabricated porous devices loaded with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) were tested for the controlled delivery of rhGH, as a potential additional means to cell delivery.
Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 373-1 Kusong-dong Yusong-gu, Taejon 305-701, South Korea.
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Nam
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Park
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011091:Polyesters; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013696:Temperature
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide)