Preparation of poly(glycolic acid) bonded fiber structures for cell attachment and transplantation

TLDR

The study presents a novel method to fabricate three‑dimensional structures of desired shapes for use as templates in cell transplantation. The method involves forming a composite of non‑bonded fibers in a matrix, thermally treating it, and selectively dissolving the matrix to bond PGA fiber meshes with PLLA, yielding porous scaffolds. The resulting scaffolds are highly porous (porosity up to 0.81) with large surface‑to‑volume ratios (~0.05 μm⁻¹), providing ample space for cell attachment and proliferation. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Abstract

Abstract A novel method was developed to prepare threedimensional structures with desired shapes used as templates for cell transplantation. The produced biomaterials are highly porous with large surface/volume and provide the necessary space for attachment and proliferation of the transplanted cells. The processing technique calls for the formation of a composite material with nonbonded fibers embedded in a matrix followed by thermal treatment and the selective dissolution of the matrix. To evaluate the technique, poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) fiber meshes were bonded using poly( L ‐lactic acid) (PLLA) as a matrix. The bonded structures were highly porous with values of porosity up to 0.81 and area/volume ratios as high as 0.05 μm −1 . © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.