Comparison of different fabrication techniques used for processing 3-dimensional, porous, biodegradable scaffolds...

3 dimensional, porous, biodegradable scaffolds were fabricated using modified starch of varying degree of substitution (DS) by extrusion processing. Freeze drying/lyophilization was also employed to fabricate scaffolds from modified starch. The research efforts have been focused on the comparison of the above-mentioned techniques by comparing the properties of the fabricated scaffolds in the paradigm of bone tissue engineering. The physicomechanical properties like porosity, compressive strength and modulus, pore size and microstructure were tested and analyzed by liquid replacement, mechanical testing and scanning electron microscopy respectively. The biodegradability of scaffolds was evaluated by soaking the samples in aqueous medium and Hank's balanced salt solution at 37-degree invitro. The cytotoxicity studies on these scaffolds were also conducted. The scaffolds have a 3D structure consisting of interconnected pores with good porosity, pore size, adequate compressive strength and modulus and exhibit good biodegradability as well as biocompatibility. After further optimization in the processing conditions and parameters they could be made useful for bone tissue engineering.