title: In-vitro degradation characteristics of poly(e-caprolactone)/poly(glycolic acid) scaffolds fabricated via solid-state cryomilling.
abstract: Poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL)/poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) scaffolds were fabricated via solid-state cryomilling along with compression molding and porogen leaching techniques. Four types of scaffolds were produced using four distinct cryomilling times. These scaffolds were evaluated for their in-vitro degradation behavior hydrolytically in phosphate buffer saline (PBS). The degradation profiles were investigated over a period of 60 days. The percentage of weight loss, percentage of water absorption, morphology, compressive, thermal, and material properties were studied as a function of degradation time. Weight loss and water absorption demonstrated a high correlation, which showed an increasing behavior with increase in cryomilling time and degradation time. Morphology of the scaffolds analyzed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed micro-cracks on the surface of the cylindrical struts due to hydrolytic attack and dissolution of hydrophilic PGA. Changes in compressive modulus and crystallinity over the degradation period and material properties were analyzed using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. DSC and XRD results indicated that hydrolytic attack had taken place during degradation, resulting in moments of increased and decreased percent crystallinity. This study successfully brought forth the differences in resultant properties of the PCL/PGA scaffolds as a function of degradation time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering, Texas Tech University, TX, USA.
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Jonnalagadda
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA rivero@iastate.edu.
authors.forename: Iris V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Rivero
authors.affiliation: Materials Characterization Center, Whitacre College of Engineering, Texas Tech University, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Juliusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Warzywoda
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D006868:Hydrolysis; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D033362:Powder Diffraction; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; D014867:Water; C016240:polycaprolactone; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid
keywords: Poly(e-caprolactone); articular cartilage scaffolds; cryomilling; hydrolytic; in vitro degradation; poly(glycolic acid)