title: Study of the connectivity properties of Bioglass -filled polylactide foam scaffolds by image analysis and impedance spectroscopy.
abstract: The porous structure of two series of poly(D,L-lactide)/Bioglass composite foams prepared by thermal-induced phase separation was investigated by image analysis and impedance spectroscopy. Polymer solutions of either low or high molecular weight containing different concentrations (up to 50 wt.%) of Bioglass particles of mean particle size d < 5 microm were studied. The morphology of both macro- and micropores was studied by scanning electron microscopy and image analysis of both neat and composite foams (containing 10-50 wt.% Bioglass). The pore connectivity of both neat polymer and composite foams was characterized by impedance spectroscopy in relation with their transport properties. The influence of the foam composition (i.e., polymer molecular weight and concentration of Bioglass on pore microstructure was studied using these non-destructive methods. It was found that addition of Bioglass particles has a pronounced effect on pore orientation, leading to increasing loss of order of pore structure, especially for low-molecular weight PDLLA foams.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Liège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blacher
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Maquet
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jérôme
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pirard
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Boccaccini
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002516:Ceramics / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D017097:Electric Impedance; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D011091:Polyesters / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D013057:Spectrum Analysis
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C022107:Bioglass; D011091:Polyesters; C033616:poly(lactide)