Macroporous biodegradable polymer scaffold using gas forming salt as porogen additive: novel fabrication method for cartilage engineering

초록

In this study, PLGA paste containing ammonium bicarbonate particulates, acting as a gas foaming agent as well as a salt leaching porogen, were used to fabricate highly porous biodegradable scaffold. And we analysed the mechanical properties of scaffolds and evaluated whether it could be appropriate for a cell vehicle, with respect to cell adhesion, proliferation and GAG synthesis. The gas forming/salt leaching method introduced in this study has distinctive advantages relative to other previous methods. The paste of polymer/solvent/ammonium bicarbonate blend mixture can be manipulated by hands to make any shape and sixe of the scaffold. Over 90% cell seeding efficiencies into the scaffolds can be seen regardless of initial cell loading density. It shows well-adhered and evenly spread chondoryctes onto the surface of macropores for 10 days of culture in bioreactor. GAG synthesis was increased with time. This simple and cost effective method might have a wide array of potential applications for cartilage regeneration in the future.