title: Analysis of sintered polymer scaffolds using concomitant synchrotron computed tomography and in situ mechanical testing.
abstract: The mechanical behaviour of polymer scaffolds plays a vital role in their successful use in bone tissue engineering. The present study utilised novel sintered polymer scaffolds prepared using temperature-sensitive poly(DL-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid)/poly(ethylene glycol) particles. The microstructure of these scaffolds was monitored under compressive strain by image-guided failure assessment (IGFA), which combined synchrotron radiation computed tomography (SR CT) and in situ micro-compression. Three-dimensional CT data sets of scaffolds subjected to a strain rate of 0.01%/s illustrated particle movement within the scaffolds with no deformation or cracking. When compressed using a higher strain rate of 0.02%/s particle movement was more pronounced and cracks between sintered particles were observed. The results from this study demonstrate that IGFA based on simultaneous SR CT imaging and micro-compression testing is a useful tool for assessing structural and mechanical scaffold properties, leading to further insight into structure-function relationships in scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications.
authors: Division of Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, UK.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Dhillon
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Schneider
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Kuhn
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Reinwald
authors: L J
authors: LJ
authors: White
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Levchuk
authors: F R A J
authors: FR
authors: Rose
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Müller
authors: K M
authors: KM
authors: Shakesheff
authors: C V
authors: CV
authors: Rahman
mesh_terms: D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000473:pathology; D019245:Compressive Strength; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D017356:Synchrotrons; D013696:Temperature; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols