Analysis of morphology on injection molded poly (ε-caprolactone) tissue engineering scaffolds

Zhixiang Cui*, Yi Yan Peng, Ke Li, Lih Sheng Turng, Changyu Shen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Poly(ε-caprolactone)(PCL)/sodium chloride (NaCl) and PCL/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/NaCl blend composites were injection molded. The water soluble, sacrificial polymer, PEO, and NaCl particulates in the blend composites were leached by deionized water to produce a porous and interconnected microstructure. The effect of leaching time on porous morphology and porosity was investigated. Results showed that PCL/NaCl blend composites had a relatively slow leaching rate due to a lack of connectivity between NaCl particulates. For PCL/PEO/NaCl blend composites, most of the PEO and NaCl particulates can be removed in a short time. This is because the leached PEO domains provide interconnected channels that allow water to reach and leach embedded NaCl particulates. In addition, it has been found that the porosity in PCL/PEO/NaCl blend composites reached a plateau of nearly 64% after leaching for 15 hours or more.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication69th Annual Technical Conference of the Society of Plastics Engineers 2011, ANTEC 2011
Pages176-180
Number of pages5
StatePublished - 2011
Externally publishedYes
Event69th Annual Technical Conference of the Society of Plastics Engineers 2011, ANTEC 2011 - Boston, MA, United States
Duration: 01 05 201105 05 2011

Publication series

NameAnnual Technical Conference - ANTEC, Conference Proceedings
Volume1

Conference

Conference69th Annual Technical Conference of the Society of Plastics Engineers 2011, ANTEC 2011
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBoston, MA
Period01/05/1105/05/11

Keywords

  • Injection molding
  • Particulate leaching
  • Porous and interconnected structures
  • Tissue engineering scaffolds

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