Porous Poly(ε-caprolactone)-Poly(l-lactic acid) Semi-Interpenetrating Networks as Superior, Defect-Specific Scaffolds with Potential for Cranial Bone Defect Repair.

ABSTRACT: The treatment of irregular cranial bone defects is currently limited due to the graft resorption that can occur when an ill-fitting interface exists between an autograft and the surrounding tissue. A tissue engineering scaffold able to achieve defect-specific geometries could improve healing. This work reports a macroporous, shape memory polymer (SMP) scaffold composed of a semi-interpenetrating network (semi-IPN) of thermoplastic poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) within cross-linked poly(ε-caprolactone) diacrylate (PCL-DA) that is capable of conformal fit within a defect. The macroporous scaffolds were fabricated using a fused salt template and were also found to have superior, highly controlled properties needed for regeneration. Specifically, the scaffolds displayed interconnected pores, impro

SUBMITTER: Woodard LN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6371392 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature