High-performance porous PLLA-based scaffolds for bone tissue engineering: Preparation, characterization, and in vitro and in vivo evaluation. (10th October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ju, Jiajun; Peng, Xiangfang; Huang, Keqing; Li, Lengwan; Liu, Xianhu; Chitrakar, Chandani; Chang, Lingqian; Gu, Zhipeng; Kuang, Tairong
• Is Part Of: Polymer. Volume 180(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-10-10
• Subjects: PLLA-based scaffolds -- Structural manipulation -- Sc-CO2 foaming -- Degradability -- Hydrophilicity -- In vitro and in vivo; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Périodiques; Polymérisation -- Périodiques; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2019.121707
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-3861

Abstract

Abstract: Porous poly (l -lactic acid) (PLLA)-based tissue engineering scaffolds have gained growing interests due to their unique structures and properties. However, the simple and green fabrication of PLLA-based scaffolds with uniform and interconnected pore structure, good degradability and hydrophobicity, and excellent biocompatibility remain a major challenge. Herein, we developed a facile, cost-effective and eco-friendly structural manipulation processing with supercritical carbon dioxide (Sc-CO2 ) foaming technique to prepare porous PLLA/poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) (95/5 wt%) scaffolds. First, structural manipulation processing was used to manipulate the formation of oriented crystal structure in a PLLA matrix, which could slow down the gas escaping during the Sc-CO2 foaming process. Subsequently, the Sc-CO2 foaming process was utilized to form 3D porous scaffolds, which are suitable for the cell growth, migration and proliferation. The fabricated porous biodegradable scaffold exhibited high porosity (90.3%), uniform and interconnected open-pores, good strengths (11.9 MPa/(g·cm 3 )), degradabilities and hydrophilicities (75.7 ± 2.1°), as well as excellent in vitro biocompatibilities. For in vivo application, a rabbit model with bone defects was utilized, and both the histological analysis and immunohistochemical analysis results revealed that the obtained porous PLLA/PEG scaffolds support bone tissue engineering. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Porous PLLA-based scaffolds are successfully fabricated by structural manipulation and Sc-CO2 foaming. Incorporation of PEG into PLLA scaffolds improves hydrophilicity, biodegradability and compression strength significantly. In vitro and in vivo biocompatibility of the structured PEG5 foam is investigated. The structured PEG5 foam supports cell attachment and growth. The obtained porous PLLA-based scaffolds are promising substrates for bone tissue engineering.