Regulation effect of polyethylene glycol relative molecular weight and dosage on porous structure and property of calcium alginate scaffold / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

AIM: Based on the water-solubility of polyethylene glycol (PEG) with different relative molecular weight (RMW) and sodium alginate, we investigated the porous structure and property of calcium alginate scaffold with different RMW and dosages of PEG, which was used as porogenic agent. METHODS: The experiment was carried out in the Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering and Biomaterials, Jinan University from March 2006 to September 2007.①PEG at different RMWs (Mw=2 000, 4 000, 6 000, 8 000, 10 000, 20 000, 35 000) and different dosages (mass fraction=0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06) were added into sodium alginate solution at 0.02 mass fraction. Then alginate was crosslinked, solidified and molded into indiscerptible film and graininess through Ca2+. PEG was dissolved by water. Therefore, a mass of porous structures could be formed in alginate.②Water content and swelling ratio of alginate was tested. Scanning electron microscope was used to observe the porous configuration. RESULTS: ①Porous alginate scaffold could be obtained through PEG and it exhibited good intensity and toughness, with water content reaching 92%. The scaffold could be formed into film and graininess.②Scanning electron microscope results revealed that the distribution of porous structure was uniformed. The aperture was 43.75 ?m-2.8 mm, and could be controlled by PEG's RMW and dosage. Inflated and uniform aperture structure was harvested when RMW of PEG was 4 000 and 6 000. CONCLUSION: Porous alginate structure can be obtained through regulating PEG's RMW and dosage. High water content and porosity of alginate scaffold material can be used in cell culture of tissue engineering and used as controlled release matrix of bio-active component.