Article
Polymer Science
Yongjun Cao, Jing Jiang, Yufan Jiang, Zihui Li, Jianhua Hou, Qian Li
Summary: In this study, biodegradable PCL/PLCL porous scaffolds were fabricated successfully, and the effect of blending ratio on scaffold properties was investigated. The results showed that the blending ratio can affect pore structure, mechanical properties, and other characteristics of the scaffolds. Additionally, the addition of a small amount of PLCL was found to improve scaffold flexibility and cell biocompatibility.
POLYMERS FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Tahmasb Hatami, Lucia Helena Innocentini Mei, Seyed Reza Shabanian
Summary: A new mathematical model was developed for predicting the average pore radius of the scaffold during supercritical foaming, based on the Amon and Denson model. Experimental validation showed a significant improvement in accuracy compared to the original model.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qian Ren, Xiuyu Zhu, Wanwan Li, Minghui Wu, Shijie Cui, Yihan Ling, Xuehua Ma, Guilong Wang, Long Wang, Wenge Zheng
Summary: This study successfully prepared porous PLA/PEG scaffolds with high expansion ratio, good hydrophilicity, and cytocompatibility. The introduction of PEG improved the foaming behavior of PLA and promoted the formation of opening cells. The obtained scaffolds exhibited high open-cell content, super-hydrophilicity, and enhanced cell proliferation, making them suitable for tissue engineering applications.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Jinjing Wang, Yi Zhang, Jianfei Sun, Zhen Jiao
Summary: This study successfully fabricated multi-modal porous scaffolds from PLGA/SPIONs using supercritical CO2 foaming. By controlling the SPIONs content, soaking temperature, pressure, and depressurization rate, multi-modal porous scaffolds with adjustable porosity could be obtained. The compressive modulus and porosity of the scaffolds were strongly associated with the porous structure.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Po-Kai Juan, Fang-Yu Fan, Wei-Chun Lin, Pei-Bang Liao, Chiung-Fang Huang, Yung-Kang Shen, Muhammad Ruslin, Chen-Han Lee
Summary: This study utilized PCL as an additive, nHA and β-TCP as ceramic powders, and NaCl and (NH4)HCO3 as porogens to fabricate 3D porous scaffolds with excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility. Results showed that nHA and β-TCP could improve the mechanical properties, enhance the hydrophilic properties, and accelerate the degradation rate of the scaffolds.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jiawei Li, Hongyao Wang, Hongfu Zhou, Jing Jiang, Xiaofeng Wang, Qian Li
Summary: In this study, microcellular polycaprolactone (PCL)/sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3)/cellulose nanofiber (CNF) composite foams with highly interconnected porous structures were successfully fabricated using supercritical CO2 as a physical foaming agent. The addition of NaHCO3 and CNF significantly increased the melt strength of the PCL matrix and resulted in highly interconnected cell structures. This strategy may provide guidelines for the fabrication of PCL-based porous scaffolds.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yaozong Li, Yingying Peng, Yang Hu, Jian Liu, Teng Yuan, Wuyi Zhou, Xianming Dong, Chaoyang Wang, Bernard P. Binks, Zhuohong Yang
Summary: Poly-(& epsilon;-caprolactone)(PCL)-incorporated lignin-chitosanbiomass-basednanocomposite porous scaffolds were prepared using templatingoil-in-water Pickering high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). The scaffolds exhibited interconnected and tunable pore structures, with improved mechanical strength and reduced water absorption capacity as the PCL content increased. Additionally, the scaffolds loaded with enrofloxacin displayed slow and adjustable drug release profiles, as well as favorable long-term antibacterial activity. The technique of combining freeze-drying with Pickering HIPE templates showed promise for fabricating hydrophobic biopolymer-incorporated biomass-based nanocomposite porous scaffolds for biomedical applications.
Article
Polymer Science
Tao Zhang, Yunjae Jang, Eunhye Lee, Sooan Shin, Ho-Jong Kang
Summary: This study investigates the supercritical carbon dioxide foaming characteristics of the biodegradable polymer P(3HB-co-4HB) for environmentally friendly packaging materials. The effect of the 4HB composition on the foaming conditions, such as pressure and temperature, is studied, and the resulting foam density and expansion ratio are evaluated. Increasing the 4HB content reduces the crystallinity and tan delta value required for foam cell growth. Lower foaming temperatures are needed to maintain a suitable tan delta value. However, foaming is not possible when the 4HB content exceeds 50% due to a high tan delta value. Crystalline P(3HB-co-4HB) with low 4HB content results in lower foam density and higher expansion ratio compared to non-crystalline P(3HB-co-4HB) with high 4HB content. The addition of a chain extender slightly increases the expansion ratio by reducing crystallinity and tan delta, most effectively with a 4HB content of 16%.
Article
Polymer Science
Victor Santos-Rosales, Ines Ardao, Leticia Goimil, Jose Luis Gomez-Amoza, Carlos A. Garcia-Gonzalez
Summary: The demand for scaffolds for hard tissue repair is increasing due to a higher incidence of fractures related to accidents and bone diseases linked to population aging. A novel solvent-free approach using supercritical foaming technology has been developed to process drug-loaded scaffolds efficiently.
Article
Polymer Science
Jinwei Chen, Ling Yang, Dahua Chen, Meigui Wang, Lixuan Wu
Summary: This study synthesized highly porous poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-based scaffolds with high interconnectivity and hydrophilicity through a supercritical carbon dioxide (c-CO2) foaming strategy. Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were added to improve the interconnectivity and hydrophilicity. PLA/PBS/PEG(90/10/10) blend foaming under 100 degrees C showed the highest open cell rate of 95.9% and a high volume expansion ratio of 13.98, with a reduced water contact angle of 62.5 degrees. The biocompatibility of the scaffolds was examined with fibroblast NIH/3T3 cells, and the results showed that PLA/PBS/PEG scaffolds had better biocompatibility compared to PLA/PBS scaffolds. This work provides an easy and green approach for fabricating fully biodegradable PLA-based scaffolds with high open cell rate and hydrophilicity in tissue engineering.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Huiting Sun, Xianqiang Pei, Hongwei Ruan, Fuzhi Song, Qihua Wang, Chao Wang, Tingmei Wang
Summary: In this research, the partition method was used to achieve the rapid adsorption of CO2 molecules by dividing block polyetherimide (PEI) into smaller parts through interconnected pores. A porous PEI with an adsorption capacity of 9.18 wt % was obtained, which was considerably higher than the non-porous PEI. Additionally, a hierarchically porous PEI with a uniform and ordered structure was successfully prepared by external force-induced cell nucleation growth. This green strategy can also be applied to other plastics and opens up possibilities for designing large-scale hierarchically porous components.
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Antonio Montes, Diego Valor, Laura Delgado, Clara Pereyra, Enrique Martinez de la Ossa
Summary: This study focuses on the development of three-dimensional scaffolds composed of conductive and non-conductive polymers to overcome the rigidity and brittleness of conjugated polymers in medical applications. The best operating conditions were determined through experiments, and various properties of the scaffolds were evaluated.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Victor Santos-Rosales, Beatriz Magarinos, Ricardo Starbird, Javier Suarez-Gonzalez, Jose B. Farina, Carmen Alvarez-Lorenzo, Carlos A. Garcia-Gonzalez
Summary: A supercritical CO2 sterilization protocol was successfully implemented to prepare and sterilize polymeric scaffolds for regenerative medicine. The sterilization conditions were established after screening against various bacteria and spores, and a transition to compressed foaming was achieved through controlled depressurization. Using this technology, sterile scaffolds with well-controlled pore architecture were obtained, surpassing standard gamma radiation sterilization methods.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Victor Santos-Rosales, Beatriz Magarinos, Carmen Alvarez-Lorenzo, Carlos A. Garcia-Gonzalez
Summary: This study utilized supercritical CO2 as a foaming and sterilizing agent for the production of vancomycin-loaded PCL bone scaffolds, showing promising sustained release profiles and good biocompatibility and angiogenic response in in vitro and in ovo experiments.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Ioanna-Georgia Athanasoulia, Vasiliki Louli, Petros Schinas, Vagelis Rinotas, Eleni Douni, Petroula Tarantili, Konstantinos Magoulas
Summary: A systematic study was conducted to investigate the optimal processing conditions for preparing PLA 3D porous structures using foaming with supercritical CO2. The depressurization rate and CO2 saturation pressure played important roles in determining the properties of the resulting structures.
POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Shuhao Sun, Qian Li, Na Zhao, Jing Jiang, Kangkang Zhang, Jianhua Hou, Xiaofeng Wang, Guoji Liu
POLYMERS FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES
(2018)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Yuhui Qiao, Qian Li, Amirjalal Jalali, Jinian Yang, Xiaofeng Wang, Na Zhao, Yongchao Jiang, Shiwei Wang, Jianhua Hou, Jing Jiang
Summary: The study found that the fibrillated PCL/PLA composites formed a 3D network of PLA fibers after hot-stretching, increasing the viscosity and storage modulus of the materials, and exhibited a solid-like behavior.
COMPOSITES PART B-ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Yongjun Cao, Jing Jiang, Yufan Jiang, Zihui Li, Jianhua Hou, Qian Li
Summary: In this study, biodegradable PCL/PLCL porous scaffolds were fabricated successfully, and the effect of blending ratio on scaffold properties was investigated. The results showed that the blending ratio can affect pore structure, mechanical properties, and other characteristics of the scaffolds. Additionally, the addition of a small amount of PLCL was found to improve scaffold flexibility and cell biocompatibility.
POLYMERS FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Jianping Ren, Long Lin, Jing Jiang, Qian Li, Shyh-Shin Hwang
Summary: This study investigated the effect of gas counter pressure (GCP) on the surface roughness, morphology, and tensile strength of foamed and conventional injection-molded polypropylene (PP) products. The results showed that increasing GCP and pressure holding duration can decrease the surface roughness of molded parts, and GCP-assisted foaming exhibited better surface quality and controllable skin layer thickness.
Article
Polymer Science
Junwei Sun, Qian Li, Yufan Jiang, Jing Jiang, Lian Yang, Caiyi Jia, Feng Chen, Xiaofeng Wang
Summary: In this study, a strategy combining in situ fibrillation (INF) and microcellular injection molding (MIM) technologies was used to produce lightweight and high impact toughness foamed PP/PET/POE components. The results showed that PET nanofibrils greatly improved PP's viscoelasticity and crystal nucleation rate. The INF composite foam exhibited more stretched cells in the skin layer and refined spherical cells in the core layer, resulting in significantly higher impact strength compared to PP foam and melt-blended PP/PET foam.
Article
Polymer Science
Gang Li, Yanpei Fei, Tairong Kuang, Tong Liu, Mingqiang Zhong, Yanbiao Li, Jing Jiang, Lih-Sheng Turng, Feng Chen
Summary: This study explored the injection foaming process of in situ fibrillation reinforced polypropylene composites. The results showed that in situ fibrillation of PTFE can significantly influence the melt strength and viscoelasticity, thus improving the foaming performance. Additionally, the addition of MWCNTs endows the material with conductive properties. These findings are expected to be applied in the lightweight, antistatic, and high-performance automotive industry.
Article
Polymer Science
Yufan Jiang, Jing Jiang, Lian Yang, Yihe Zhang, Xiaofeng Wang, Na Zhao, Jianhua Hou, Qian Li
Summary: In this study, in-situ fibrillation (INF) and supercritical CO2 (scCO(2)) foaming technology were used to fabricate PP foams. By incorporating PET and PDPP particles, the resulting PP/PET(F)/PDPP foam exhibited refined cellular structures, enhanced mechanical properties, and improved flame-retardant performance.