Study on development and in vitro biodegradation behaviour of poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) 75/25 bioscaffolds

Abstract

Three-dimensional porous scaffolds based on biodegradable polymers are widely researched for applications to replace and restore the functions of diseased or damaged organs. The requirements for the scaffolds include: highly interconnected pore structures to facilitate cell adhesion for tissue regeneration, maintenance of mechanical properties and structural integrity until cells adapt to its environment and biodegradability with a controlled degradation rate. This paper focuses on the development and in vitro biodegradation behaviour of poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide acid) (PLGA) 75/25 and changes on pore morphology affected by initial pore sizes and degradation media. The pore morphology, mechanical properties, and geometric transformation were examined over the course of 13 weeks. It is concluded that the PLGA 75/25 scaffolds degraded after seven weeks and completely degraded after 13 weeks. The degradation time of scaffolds with small pores and in distilled water was comparatively shorter due to poorer interconnectivity of the pores and a more aggressive environment.