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- Title
Physicochemical characterisation of novel ultra-thin biodegradable scaffolds for peripheral nerve repair.
- Authors
Mingzhu Sun; Downes, Sandra
- Abstract
In this study, the physicochemical properties of microporous poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) films and a composite material made of PCL and polylactic acid (PLA) blend were tested. Fabricated by solvent casting using dichloromethane, these ultra-thin films (60 ± 5 μm in thickness) have a novel double-sided surface topography, i.e. a porous surface with pores 1–10 μm in diameter and a relatively smooth surface with nano-scaled texture. Porous surfaces were found to be associated with increased protein adsorption and the treatment of these polyester scaffolds with NaOH rendered them more hydrophilic. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) showed that the incorporation of PLA reduced the crystallinity of the original homopolymer. Chemical changes were investigated by means of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Average surface roughness (Ra), hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity and mechanical properties of these materials were also assessed for the suitability of these materials as nerve conduits.
- Subjects
DICHLOROMETHANE; SOLVENTS; PERIPHERAL nervous system; CALORIMETRY; INFRARED spectroscopy; MOLECULAR spectroscopy; FOURIER transform infrared spectroscopy; MOLECULAR orbitals
- Publication
Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 2009, Vol 20, Issue 5, p1181
- ISSN
0957-4530
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10856-008-3671-3