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A Facile and Eco-friendly Route to Fabricate Poly(Lactic Acid) Scaffolds with Graded Pore Size
Published on: October 17, 2016
Physical characterization of thin semi-porous poly(L-lactic acid)/poly(ethylene glycol) membranes for tissue
V Swaminathan1, R Tchao, S Jonnalagadda
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, 600 S 43rd Street, Box 80, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Journal of Biomaterials Science. Polymer Edition
|October 18, 2007
Summary
Poly(L-lactic acid):poly(ethylene glycol) membranes exhibit stable mechanical properties. Higher molecular weight PEG (8000) creates permeable membranes, while lower MW PEGs offer temporary plasticization in PBS.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Materials Engineering
Background:
- Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) is a biodegradable polymer with potential applications in tissue engineering and drug delivery.
- Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) incorporation can modify PLLA properties, but its effect on membrane characteristics over time requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of PEG molecular weight (MW) on the physical properties of PLLA:PEG membranes.
- To evaluate the changes in membrane morphology, thermal, mechanical, and permeability properties after in vitro incubation.
Main Methods:
- Solvent-cast PLLA:PEG membranes were fabricated using PEG with MW of 400, 1450, and 8000.
- Membranes were incubated in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 37°C for up to 6 weeks.
- Morphological, thermal, mechanical, and permeability analyses were conducted before and after incubation.
Main Results:
- Membranes exhibited semi-porous structures with pore sizes ranging from 0.5-5 µm, dependent on PEG MW.
- All membranes maintained mechanical integrity (150-440 MPa elastic moduli, 7-36 MPa tensile strength) throughout incubation.
- Only PLLA:PEG 8000 membranes became permeable to methylene blue after 3 weeks of degradation.
Conclusions:
- PEG molecular weight significantly influences the pore structure and permeability of PLLA:PEG membranes.
- PLLA:PEG membranes demonstrate robust mechanical stability during extended in vitro incubation.
- PLLA:PEG 8000 membranes show potential for applications requiring controlled permeability after degradation.
