title: Physical characterization of polycaprolactone scaffolds.
abstract: Films and sponges were prepared from a solution of Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) in tetrahydrofuran (THF). The porosity, crystallinity, and mechanical properties of the samples were studied. Porosity of around 15% was obtained for the films produced by evaporation of THF at room temperature. A much more porous structure (50-70%) was found for the sponges obtained by cooling the solution at -30 degrees C and subsequently eliminating the solvent by freeze drying. The porosity of the samples was also observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The crystallinity of the samples was studied by the calorimetric technique (DSC) before and after the compression scans. The mechanical properties of the different samples were determined by compression test, and were compared to those corresponding to the PCL in bulk. The compression scans did not affect the crystallinity of the samples. The variations observed in the results of the different scans were attributed to the differences in porosities and crystallinity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, Center for Biomaterials, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, Valencia 46071, Spain.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Más Estellés
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vidaurre
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Meseguer Dueñas
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Castilla Cortázar
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D003460:Crystallization; D005612:Freeze Drying; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity; D012997:Solvents; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D012997:Solvents; C016240:polycaprolactone