PREPARATION OF INTERCONNECTED POLYCAPROLACTONE POROUS SCAFFOLDS BY A COMBINATION POLYMER AND SALT PARTICULATE LEACHING

摘要

Porous poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds were prepared by melt blending PCL with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and NaCl salt particulates using twin-screw extrusion, followed by leaching out of water soluble PEO and NaCl. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) were carried out to caracterized their morphology. The scaffolds were highly porous (75-85%) and exhibited an open cellular pore structures.