23 Jul REVERSE FABRICATION OF POROUS MATERIALS
Abstract
3-D biodegradable porous, polymer (natural or synthetic) scaffolds with well-controlled, interconnected pores, and method for forming the porous materials. Hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic porogen materials were fabricated into 3-D negative replicas of the desired macroporous architectures. Biodegradable polymers (PLLA and PLGA) were dissolved in a solvent and cast onto the negative replica. After dissolving/leaching out the porogen materials, a porous polymer scaffold was formed. The skeletal structure of PLLA foams consisted of small platelets or nano-fibers, while PLGA foams had homogeneous skeletal structure. To improve the cell seeding, distribution, mass transport, and new tissue organization and vascularization, 3-D macroporous architectures are built in the nano-fibrous matrices. The method tailors polymer scaffolds for a variety of potential tissue engineering applications due to the well-controlled architecture, inter-pore connectivity, and mechanical properties.
Year: 2001
Country: WO
Doc No: 187575