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Suitability of EtO Sterilization for Polydopamine-coated, Self-fitting Bone Scaffolds
Christopher J Houk1, Felipe O Beltran2, Melissa A Grunlan1,2,3
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States.
Polymer Degradation and Stability
|November 29, 2021
Summary
Ethylene oxide sterilization preserves the properties of polydopamine-coated shape memory polymer scaffolds for craniomaxillofacial defects. These scaffolds maintain their structure, bioactivity, and mechanical integrity for effective osseointegration.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Craniomaxillofacial (CMF) defects require advanced treatments like self-fitting shape memory polymer (SMP) scaffolds.
- Polydopamine (PD) coating enhances scaffold bioactivity and osseointegration.
- Ethylene oxide (EtO) sterilization is suitable for temperature-sensitive materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of EtO sterilization on PD-coated SMP scaffolds.
- To assess the preservation of material properties and bioactivity post-sterilization.
- To evaluate the suitability of EtO-sterilized scaffolds for CMF defect repair.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of poly(ε-caprolactone)diacrylate (PCL-DA) and PCL-DA/poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs).
- Application of polydopamine (PD) coating.
- Sterilization using ethylene oxide (EtO).
- Assessment of morphological features, in vitro bioactivity, crystallinity, crosslinking, shape memory properties, mechanical modulus, and degradation behavior.
Main Results:
- EtO sterilization preserved scaffold morphology, pore size, and interconnectivity.
- In vitro bioactivity, PCL and PLLA crystallinity, and crosslinking remained unchanged.
- Sustained shape memory properties and compressive modulus were observed.
- Sterilized scaffolds exhibited similar in vitro degradation profiles and maintained compression modulus after 28 days.
Conclusions:
- EtO sterilization is a viable method for sterilizing PD-coated SMP scaffolds for CMF applications.
- The sterilization process does not compromise critical material properties or bioactivity.
- These scaffolds demonstrate potential for effective CMF defect treatment with enhanced osseointegration.
