Synthesis and characterization of divinyl‐fumarate poly‐ε‐caprolactone for scaffolds with controlled architectures. (3rd April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ronca, Alfredo; Ronca, Sara; Forte, Giuseppe; Zeppetelli, Stefania; Gloria, Antonio; De Santis, Roberto; Ambrosio, Luigi
• Is Part Of: Journal of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Volume 12:Number 1(2018)
• Page Start: e523
• Page End: e531
• Publication Date: 2017-04-03
• Subjects: photocrosslinkable polymer -- polycaprolactone fumarate -- biocompatibility -- stereolithography -- cell–material interactions -- mathematically defined scaffold; Tissue engineering -- Periodicals; Regeneration (Biology) -- Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1002/term.2322
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1932-6254

Abstract

Abstract: A vinyl‐terminated polycaprolactone has been developed for tissue engineering applications using a one‐step synthesis and functionalization method based on ring opening polymerization (ROP) of ε‐Caprolactone, with hydroxyl ethyl vinyl ether (HEVE) acting both as the initiator of ROP and as photo‐curable functional group. The proposed method employs a catalyst based on aluminium, instead of the most popular Tin(II) 2‐ethylhexanoate, to reduce the cytotoxicity. Following the synthesis of the vinyl‐terminated polycaprolactone, its reaction with fumaryl chloride (FuCl) results in a divinyl‐fumarate polycaprolactone (VPCLF). The polymers obtained were thoroughly characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) techniques. The polymer has been successfully employed, in combination with N ‐vinyl pyrrolidone (NVP), to fabricate films and computer‐designed porous scaffolds by micro‐stereolithography (μ‐SL) with gyroid and diamond architectures. Characterization of the networks indicated the influence of NVP content on the network properties. Human mesenchymal stem cells adhered and spread onto VPCLF/NVP networks showing good biological properties and no cytotoxic effect. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.