Effect of PEG addition on pore morphology and biocompatibility of PLLA scaffolds prepared by freeze drying

• Published in: Biomedical engineering letters 2016, 6(4), , pp.287-295
• Main Authors: Kim, Yena, Son, Siwon, Chun, Cheolbyong, Kim, Jin-Tae, Lee, Deuk Yong, Choi, Hyo Jeong, Kim, Tae-Hyung, Cha, Eun-Jong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biocompatibility; Biodegradability; Biological and Medical Physics; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Biomedicine; Biophysics; Buffer solutions; Cytotoxicity; Degradation; Drying; Electron microscopy; Engineering; Evaluation; Lamellar structure; Medical and Radiation Physics; Morphology; Original Article; Polyethylene glycol; Polylactic acid; Polymer blends; Pore size; Scaffolds; Scanning electron microscopy; Sensitizing; Skin; Standardization; Toxicity; Toxicity testing; Weight loss measurement; 의공학
• ISSN: 2093-9868; 2093-985X
• DOI: 10.1007/s13534-016-0241-3

Purpose A 3wt% poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) with different concentrations of polyethylene glycol (PEG, 0~9wt%) was blended and lyophilized to evaluate the morphology and the biocompatibility of the PLLA/PEG scaffolds. The purpose of this study is to investigate the biocompatibility of the PLLA/ PEG blends. Morphology, degradation rate, cytotoxicity, skin sensitization, acute systemic toxicity, and intradermal reactivity are examined. Methods The morphology of the scaffolds was examined by using scanning electron microscopy. The degradation of the scaffolds in phosphate buffer solution was measured for up to 9 weeks by measuring the weight loss. The extract test method was conducted on the scaffolds to evaluate the potential of cytotoxicity on the base of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 10993-5). Skin sensitization, acute systemic toxicity, and intradermal reactivity were conducted according to ISO 10993-10(2010), ISO 10993-11(2006), ISO 10993-10(2010), respectively. Results The lamellar morphology of PLLA scaffold was changed to the ladder-like structure with adding PEG. The pore size of the PLLA/PEG blends decreased from 24±6 μm to 13±2 μm with increasing the PEG content from 0wt% to 9wt%. As a result of the measurement, degradation rate rose with increasing the PEG content in PLLA and biodegradable PLLA/PEG blend scaffolds exhibited excellent biocompatibility due to the absence of cytotoxicity, skin sensitizing potency, acute systemic toxicity, and intradermal reactivity. Conclusions This outcome implied that the biodegradable PLLA/PEG scaffolds were clinically safe and effective.