A new type of hybrid three-dimensional scaffolds was prepared using poly(caprolactone) (PCL) and chitosan-modified montmorillonite by solvent casting and particulate leaching method. The scaffolds were characterized by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and dynamic mechanical analysis to study the structural and mechanical properties. The resulting scaffolds displayed high porosity with highly interconnected pores. EDS analysis confirmed the elemental composition of the scaffolds. The phase composition of the scaffolds was shown by XRD, which also indicated a decrease in crystallinity with the introduction of nanoclay. Biodegradability studies which were conducted in simulated physiological conditions over a period of four weeks revealed that the PCL-based scaffolds degraded by hydrolysis at a slow rate. The overall bioresorbability was also slow, with the composite-based scaffolds recording a faster rate than the neat polymer-based scaffold.
Reference:
Mkhabela, V. and Ray, S.S. 2015. Biodegradation and bioresorption of poly(-caprolactone) nanocomposite scaffolds. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 79, 186-192
Mkhabela, V., & Ray, S. (2015). Biodegradation and bioresorption of poly(-caprolactone) nanocomposite scaffolds. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/8589
Mkhabela, V, and SS Ray "Biodegradation and bioresorption of poly(-caprolactone) nanocomposite scaffolds." (2015) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/8589
Mkhabela V, Ray S. Biodegradation and bioresorption of poly(-caprolactone) nanocomposite scaffolds. 2015; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/8589.
Copyright: 2015 Elsevier. Due to copyright restrictions, the attached PDF file only contains the abstract of the full text item. For access to the full text item, please consult the publisher's website. The definitive version of the work is published in International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 79, 186-192