Preparation of macroporous biodegradable PLGA scaffolds for cell attachment with the use of mixed salts as porogen additives.
In the present study, a mixture of ammonium-bicarbonate (NH(4)HCO(3)) and sodium-chloride (NaCl) particles was used as a porogen additive to fabricate highly macroporous biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds. A two-step salt-leaching process was performed after the sample had become semisolidified. Compared to the standard solvent-casting/particulate-leaching (SC/PL) technique, the processing time of this approach was significantly shorter: Instead of several days, only half a day was required. In addition, the polymer/salts/solvent mixture can be easily handled and molded into scaffolds of any specific shape-for example, thin sheet, cylindrical, or bone-shaped-for special applications in tissue engineering. Our results demonstrate that these scaffolds have a highly interconnected open-pore structure as well as greater mechanical properties than those made using the standard SC/PL technique. Primary rat osteoblasts seeded into the scaffolds exhibited good seeding efficiency. The method presented here is a promising approach for fabricating scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.
Lin
Hong-Ru
HR
Department of Applied Chemistry, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan 717. hongrulin@mail.chna.edu.tw
Kuo
Chun-Jung
CJ
Yang
C Y
CY
Shaw
Shyh-Yu
SY
Wu
Yu-Jun
YJ
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000494:pharmacology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002455:Cell Division; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019563:Mechanics; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology; D010012:Osteogenesis; D010592:Pharmaceutic Aids / Q000494:pharmacology; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016062:Porosity / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012492:Salts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013499:Surface Properties / Q000187:drug effects; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
D001639:Bicarbonates; D010592:Pharmaceutic Aids; D011108:Polymers; D012492:Salts; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D012965:Sodium Chloride; C027043:ammonium bicarbonate