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Optimizing solvent systems for electrospun PLGA scaffolds: effects on microstructure and mechanical properties for
Golestan Salimbeigi1, Garrett B McGuinness1
1School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University Dublin 9 Ireland garrett.mcguinness@dcu.ie.
RSC Advances
|February 3, 2025
Summary
Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds mimic the extracellular matrix. Solvent choice significantly impacts mechanical properties, with hexafluoro isopropanol (HFIP) yielding softer scaffolds than common binary solvent systems.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Electrospun scaffolds from poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) are promising for biomedical uses due to their extracellular matrix (ECM)-like structure and tunable degradation.
- Scaffold properties are highly dependent on polymer characteristics, solution parameters, and processing conditions, with solvent selection being particularly critical.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the Hansen solubility parameters for PLGA.
- To investigate the impact of various solvent systems on the microstructure and mechanical properties of electrospun PLGA scaffolds.
- To optimize electrospinning parameters for consistent fiber diameter across different solvents.
Main Methods:
- Solubility experiments were conducted to determine Hansen solubility parameters for PLGA.
- Electrospinning was used to fabricate PLGA scaffolds using different solvent systems: hexafluoro isopropanol (HFIP) and binary mixtures of tetrahydrofuran (THF)/dichloromethane (DCM) and dimethylformamide (DMF).
- Microstructural analysis and mechanical testing (Young's modulus, ultimate tensile strength, failure strain) were performed on the fabricated scaffolds.
Main Results:
- Consistent average fiber diameters were achieved across different solvent systems after process optimization.
- PLGA scaffolds electrospun using HFIP exhibited lower Young's modulus and ultimate tensile strength compared to those fabricated with binary solvent systems.
- Scaffolds produced with HFIP demonstrated higher failure strains, indicating increased ductility.
Conclusions:
- Solvent selection critically influences the mechanical properties of electrospun PLGA scaffolds.
- Hexafluoro isopropanol (HFIP) results in more flexible PLGA scaffolds, while binary solvent systems yield stiffer materials.
- This study provides valuable data for tailoring electrospun PLGA scaffolds for specific biomedical applications by controlling solvent systems.
