Scaffold for tissue engineering fabricated by non-isothermal supercritical carbon dioxide foaming of a highly crystalline polyester
Received 27 March 2009; received in revised form 20 May 2009; accepted 15 July 2009. published online 21 July 2009.
Abstract
Porous scaffolds of a random co-polymer of ω-pentadecalactone (PDL) and ε-caprolactone (CL) (poly(PDL–CL)), synthesized by biocatalysis, were fabricated by supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) foaming. The co-polymer, containing 31mol.% CL units, is highly crystalline (Tm=82°C, ΔHm=105Jg−1) thanks to the ability of the two monomer units to co-crystallize. The co-polymer can be successfully foamed upon homogeneous absorption of scCO2 at T>Tm. The effect of soaking time, depressurization rate and cooling rate on scaffold porosity, pore size distribution and pore interconnectivity was investigated by micro X-ray computed tomography. Scaffolds with a porosity in the range 42–76% and an average pore size of 100–375μm were successfully obtained by adjusting the main foaming parameters. Process conditions in the range investigated did not affect the degree of crystallinity of poly(PDL–CL) scaffolds. A preliminary study of the mechanical properties of the scaffolds revealed that poly(PDL–CL) foams may find application in the regeneration of cartilage tissue.
aChemistry Department “G. Ciamician” and INSTM UdR Bologna, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
bSchool of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
cNSF I/UCRC for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing of Macromolecules, Polytechnic Institute of New York University, 6 Metrotech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA
dSchool of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
ABSTRACT