Fabrication of a Bioactive,PCL-based Self-fitting Shape Memory Polymer Scaffold |
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Authors: | Lindsay N. Nail Dawei Zhang Jessica L. Reinhard Melissa A. Grunlan |
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Affiliation: | 1.Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University;2.Department of Material Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University;3.Institute of Advanced Materials and Technology, University of Science & Technology Beijing |
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Abstract: | Tissue engineering has been explored as an alternative strategy for the treatment of critical-sized cranio-maxillofacial (CMF) bone defects. Essential to the success of this approach is a scaffold that is able to conformally fit within an irregular defect while also having the requisite biodegradability, pore interconnectivity and bioactivity. By nature of their shape recovery and fixity properties, shape memory polymer (SMP) scaffolds could achieve defect “self-fitting.” In this way, following exposure to warm saline (~60 ºC), the SMP scaffold would become malleable, permitting it to be hand-pressed into an irregular defect. Subsequent cooling (~37 ºC) would return the scaffold to its relatively rigid state within the defect. To meet these requirements, this protocol describes the preparation of SMP scaffolds prepared via the photochemical cure of biodegradable polycaprolactone diacrylate (PCL-DA) using a solvent-casting particulate-leaching (SCPL) method. A fused salt template is utilized to achieve pore interconnectivity. To realize bioactivity, a polydopamine coating is applied to the surface of the scaffold pore walls. Characterization of self-fitting and shape memory behaviors, pore interconnectivity and in vitro bioactivity are also described. |
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Keywords: | Bioengineering Issue 104 Shape memory polycaprolactone polydopamine scaffold salt template bioactive bone healing |
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