title: Fabrication of poly(alpha-hydroxy acid) foam scaffolds using multiple solvent systems.
abstract: The present studies describe the fabrication and characterization of highly porous and interconnected poly(alpha-hydroxy acid) foam scaffolds produced using a phase separation multisolvent system, followed by a sublimation process. Fabrication parameters, including solvent composition, polymer concentration, freezing temperature, polymer type, and polymer molecular weight, were optimized to produce the desired foam microstructure. Analyses of selected samples with scanning electron microscopic images and mercury intrusion porosimetry indicated polymer foams with pore size ranges of 100-350 microm, a porosity >90%, and an interconnecting open-pore foam structure. Scaffold degradation profiles varied according to the type and molecular weight of the polymers. Cytocompatibility assays demonstrated that the preferred foam structures were nontoxic and osteoprecursor cells seeded into the scaffolds exhibited the ability to attach, propagate, and differentiate into a calcified structure.
authors.affiliation: Bone Tissue Engineering Center, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Yunhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Grainger
authors.forename: Shelley R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Winn
authors.forename: Jeffrey O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Hollinger
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D011091:Polyesters / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D016062:Porosity; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D018786:Bone Substitutes; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D012997:Solvents; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide)