Preparation and in vitro characterization of novel hydrophilic poly(D,L-lactide)/poly (ethylene glycol)-poly (lactide) composite scaffolds / 生物医学工程学杂志

ABSTRACT

A new technique was developed to fabricate PDLLA and PDLLA/PELA composite scaffolds by thermally induced phase separation in combination, with particulate-leaching. Effects of PDLLA/PELA ratio, PEG/PLA ratio and PEG molecular weight on properties of mechanics, degradation behavior and cell toxicity as well as morphological properties were investigated. As the result showed, by thermally induced phase separation/ particulate-leaching, a unique morphology that macropores (100-250 microm) and micropores (5-40 microm)coexisted in the scaffold was obtained. An increase of PEG content or a decrease of PEG molecular weight raised the porosity of the scaffold. A decrease of PDLLA/PELA ratio or an increase of PEG/PLA ratio weakened mechanical properties and accelerated the degradation of the scaffold. PDLLA and PDLLA/PELA scaffolds didn't show cell toxicity. When PDLLA/PELA ratio was 31 and PEG5000/PLA ratio was 2575, the scaffold got a regular, highly interconnected, macro-co-micro porous structure.