title: Technique paper for wet-spinning poly(L-lactic acid) and poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) monofilament fibers.
abstract: A simple and repeatable method is described for wet-spinning poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) monofilament fibers. These fibers are strong, elastic, and suitable for many applications, including use as tissue-engineering scaffolds. The PLLA wet-extruded fibers do not show additional strain-induced crystallization as a result of drawing the fibers during fabrication; however, there is an apparent increase in crystallinity late in the degradation process in saline at 37 degrees C. We have measured the molecular weight degradation in saline at 37 degrees C for fibers of both PLLA and PLGA. Changing solvent systems, polymer blends, and winding rates alters mechanical and morphological properties of these fibers for specific applications. The authors discuss a possible theoretical explanation for these observed changes due to changes in polymer concentration, solvent system, and coagulation bath properties. This wet-extrusion process is simple and inexpensive enough to be carried out in almost any laboratory interested in tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Joint Program in Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas 76019-0138, USA. knelson@uta.edu
authors.forename: Kevin D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Andres
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Waggoner
authors.forename: Brent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Crow
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borneman
authors.forename: George M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004548:Elasticity; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011091:Polyesters; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012399:Rotation; D013499:Surface Properties; D013718:Tensile Strength; D013784:Textiles; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D017155:Wettability
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide)