title: Effect of PEG-PLLA diblock copolymer on macroporous PLLA scaffolds by thermally induced phase separation.
abstract: A regular and highly interconnected macroporous poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) scaffold was fabricated from a PLLA-dioxane-water ternary system with added polyethylene glycol (PEG)-PLLA diblock using thermally induced phase separation (TIPS). The morphology of the scaffold was investigated in detail by controlling the following TIPS parameters: quenching temperature, aging time, polymer concentration, molecular structure, and diblock concentration. The phase diagram was assessed visually on the basis of the turbidity. The cloud-point curve shifted to higher temperatures with increasing PEG content in the additives (PEG-PLLA diblocks), due to a stronger interaction between PEG and water in solution. The addition of diblock series (0.5 wt% in solution) stabilized interconnections of pores at a later stage without segregation or sedimentation. The pore size of the scaffold could be easily controlled in the range 50-300 microm. A macroporous PLLA scaffold was used to study an MC3T3-E1 cell (an osteoblast-like cell) culture. The cells successfully proliferated in the PLLA scaffold in the presence of added PEG-PLLA diblock for 4 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Center for Advanced Functional Polymers, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Kyungki 440-746, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Do
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun Hee
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Ick Chan
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Ravindra Ramsurat
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: Jae Do
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Doo Sung
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002455:Cell Division; D002470:Cell Survival; D005591:Chemical Fractionation / Q000379:methods; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007773:Lactates / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D051379:Mice; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D044367:Phase Transition; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D013499:Surface Properties; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D007773:Lactates; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; C088513:poly(lactic acid-ethylene glycol); D011092:Polyethylene Glycols