title: Comparison of drying methods in the fabrication of collagen scaffold via indirect rapid prototyping.
abstract: Porous collagen scaffolds with predefined 3-dimesional (3-D) networks of internal channels are fabricated via an indirect rapid prototyping technique. To obtain the scaffolds, two drying methods, namely critical point drying and freeze-drying were investigated. The latter was found to be a more suitable process as it induced less shrinkage and reproduced the design morphology accurately. The resulting scaffold contained internal hollow channels with porous foam-like structure occupying the surrounding volume. The mean diameter of the pores was 180 +/- 60 microm and the channels diameter obtained was measured as 437 +/- 100 microm. The channels were defined and strengthened by a layer of skin due to the process of freeze-drying. These networks of internal channels serve to enhance the mass transport rate through the scaffold and help to increase the depth of cells penetration in the scaffold.
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798. yeon0003@ntu.edu.sg
authors.forename: Wai-Yee
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Yeong
authors.forename: Chee-Kai
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.forename: Kah-Fai
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.forename: Margam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chandrasekaran
authors.forename: Mun-Wai
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005612:Freeze Drying; D016062:Porosity; D011309:Preservation, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I