A novel technique for scaffold fabrication: SLUP (salt leaching using powder)

作者：Cho Yong Sang; Kim Beom Su; You Hyung Keun; Cho Young Sam

来源：Current Applied Physics, 2014, 14(3): 371-377.

DOI：10.1016/j.cap.2013.12.013

• Tissue engineering
• Scaffold
• PCL (polycaprolactone)
• Salt leaching
• SLUP (salt leaching using powder) technique

In this study, we proposed a novel salt-leaching method using PCL and NaCl powders, known as the SLUP (salt leaching using powder) technique, which has several advantages: this technique does not require solvent, pressure, or unnecessary expensive devices. First, PCL powder (100-180 mu m size) and NaCl powder (350-400 mu m size) were prepared. Second, the PCL and NaCl powders were mixed at a certain ratio, and then the mixed powder was poured into a mold. Afterward, the mold was heated to melt the PCL powder in an oven at 80 degrees C for 15 min. Subsequently, after the PCL/NaCl mixture was separated from the mold, the PCL/NaCl mixture was soaked in D. I. water for 24 h to leach out the NaCl particles. Consequently, the remaining PCL structure was porous and could be used as a scaffold. To analyze the compressive modulus of the fabricated scaffold, a uniaxial compression test was performed using a UTM (universal testing machine), and the surface characteristics of the scaffold were observed using an SEM (scanning electron microscope). Additionally, cell-culture experiments were performed using hMSCs (human mesenchymal stem cells), and the cell-culture characteristics were assessed and compared with the characteristics from a conventional salt-leaching scaffold.

• 出版日期2014-3