Fibro-porous poliglecaprone/polycaprolactone conduits: synergistic effect of composition andin vitrodegradation on mechanical properties.
Blends of poliglecaprone (PGC) and polycaprolactone (PCL) of varying compositions were electrospun into tubular conduits and their mechanical, morphological, thermal andin vitrodegradation properties were evaluated under simulated physiological conditions. Generally, mechanical strength, modulus and hydrophilic nature were enhanced by the addition of PGC to PCL. Anin vitrodegradation study in phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.3) was carried out for up to 1 month to understand the hydrolytic degradation effect on the mechanical properties in both the longitudinal and circumferential directions. Pure PCL and 4:1 PCL/PGC blend scaffolds exhibited considerable elastic stiffening after a 1 monthin vitrodegradation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic and DSC techniques were used to understand the degradation behavior and the changes in structure and crystallinity of the polymeric blends. A 3:1 PCL/PGC blend was concluded to be a judicious blend composition for tubular grafts based on overall results on the mechanical properties and performance after a 1 monthin vitrodegradation study.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
Harsh N
HN
Patel
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
Roman
R
Garcia
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
Carrie
C
Schindler
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
Derrick
D
Dean
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA ; Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
Steven M
SM
Pogwizd
Vivo Biosciences Inc., Birmingham, AL 35205, USA.
Raj
R
Singh
Center for Nanoscale Materials and Biointegration, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
Yogesh K
YK
Vohra
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA ; Center for Nanoscale Materials and Biointegration, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
Vinoy
V
Thomas
degradation; electrospinning; mechanical properties; poliglecaprone; vascular graft