Fabrication and biocompatibility of cell scaffolds of poly(<scp>L</scp>‐lactic acid) and poly(<scp>L</scp>‐lactic‐co‐glycolic acid)

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, poly( L ‐lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly( L ‐lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) were synthesized, and the biocompatibility of PLGA(50/50) (molar ratio) was evaluated by observing the tissue response during implanting PLGA(50/50) into rats. After the PLGA(50/50) was implanted into rats for 12 weeks, the lymphocytes and plasma cells became small or disappeared at the muscle tissue of implant site which indicates the biocompatibility of PLGA(50/50) is very good. A series of porous cell scaffolds of PLGA and PLLA were prepared by using a solution‐casting/salt‐leaching technique. An improved method in which a density bottle instead of a graduated cylinder was developed to measure their porosities. It was found that the accuracy and reproducibility of the improved method for measuring porosity are excellent. A porous PLGA(50/50) scaffold was used to study chondrocytes culture. The chondrocytes were proliferated in porous PLGA(50/50) scaffold and the composite cell/PLGA was successfully obtained for cartilage regeneration. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.