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Synthesis of Biocompatible Liquid Crystal Elastomer Foams as Cell Scaffolds for 3D Spatial Cell Cultures
Published on: April 11, 2017
Formation of porous biodegradable scaffolds based on poly(propylene carbonate) using gas foaming technology
Iman Manavitehrani1, Thi Y L Le1, Sean Daly1
1School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, the University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006, Australia.
Abstract:
Polyester-based scaffolds have been employed in tissue engineering due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, microstructure, and affordability. However, the acidic degradation byproducts of most common polyesters have the potential to cause inflammation and/or necrosis. In this study, we introduce a porous scaffold with benign degradation byproducts fabricated by gas-foaming based on poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) blended with starch and bioglass particles. The pore sizes ranged from 100 to 500 μm. Manufacturing parameters were tuned from sub-critical to super-critical conditions to optimize porosity, pore size, pore interconnectivity, and mechanical properties. The biological behavior of the constructs was evaluated by in vitro toxicity and proliferation assays and in vivo subcutaneous biocompatibility. Tissue integration was observed in a joint implantation model, supporting the further development of the scaffold for tissue engineering applications.
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