2/4/2011

Preparation of porous nanocomposite scaffolds with honeycomb monolith structure by one phase solution freezedrying method
(215-224) Chinese Journal of Polymer Science 29, #2 (2011)

Xu et al, China fabricated biodegradable porous nanocomposite scaffolds of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and L-lactic acid (LAc) oligomer surface-grafted hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (op-HA) with a honeycomb monolith structure by  the single-phase solution freeze-drying method.  Highly porous and well interconnected scaffolds with a tunable pore structure were obtained.  The porosity varied from 91.2% to 83.0% and the average pore diameter varied from (167.2 ± 62.6) μm to (11.9 ± 4.2) μm.  The cell proliferation were decreased and associated with the above-mentioned properties.  The 4°C frozen scaffold exhibited better cell penetration and increased cell proliferation because of its larger pore size, higher porosity and interconnection.  (RDC 2/11/2011)

2/4/2011
A hybrid scaffold of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) sponge filled with fibrin gel for cartilage tissue engineering
(233-240) Chinese Journal of Polymer Science 29, #2 (2011)
Wang et al, China  filled a poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) sponge fabricated by a gelatin porogen leaching method with fibrin gel to obtain a hybrid scaffold for chondrocytes culture in vitro.  The fibrin gel evenly distributed in the hybrid scaffold with visible fibrinogen fibers after drying.  In vitro culture it was found that in the hybrid scaffold the chondrocytes distributed more evenly and kept a round morphology as in the normal cartilage.  Although the chondrocytes seeded in the control PLGA sponges showed similar proliferation behavior with that in the hybrid scaffolds, they were remarkably elongated, forming a fibroblast-like morphology.  (RDC 2/12/2011)

1/28/2011
In situ grown fibrous composites of poly(dl-lactide) and hydroxyapatite as potential tissue engineering scaffolds  
(6268-6277) Polymer 51 #26 (2010)
Chen et al Southwest Jiaotong University, China showed that in situ grown composites (IGC) the localization of apatite phase on the fiber surface improved the biomineralization capability and enhanced the morphological stability of the fibers and fibrous mats even when the degradation of matrix polymers was detected. The cell viability and alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly higher for composites IGC, indicating favorable scaffolds for cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation.  (RDC 1/27/2011)

12/3/2010
In vivotissue responses to thermal-responsive shape memory polymer nanocomposites
(985-991)  Biomaterials 32  #4 (2011)
Filion et al of theUniversity of Massachusetts  developed a class of biodegradable POSS-SMP nanocomposites exhibiting stable temporary shape fixing and facile shape recovery within a narrow window of physiological temperatures.  The materials were covalently crosslinked from star-branched building blocks consisting a bioinert polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) core and 8 degradable poly(d,l-lactide) arms.  These minimally immunogenic and biodegradable shape memory polymers  are promising candidates for scaffold-assisted tissue repair where both facile surgical delivery and controlled degradation of the scaffold are desired for achieving optimal short-term and long-term clinical outcomes.  (RDC 11/29/2010)

11/19/2010
Effect of the Porous Microstructures of Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/Carbon Nanotube Composites on the Growth of Fibroblast Cells
 (239 – 253) Soft Materials 8, #3 (2010).
Liu et al  showed that adding MWCNT to a porous poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and PLGA/ scaffold promoted fibroblast attachment, spreading, and proliferation   Electrospun porous fibrous mats show better cell proliferation and growth than macroporous films with similar composition at longer culture times.  (EDC 11/20/1010)

10/29/2010
Controllable growth of hydroxyapatite on electrospun poly(dl-lactide) fibers grafted with chitosan as potential tissue engineering scaffolds 
(2320-2328)  Polymer 51 #11 (2010)
Cui et al controlled the amount of chitosan grafted on the fiber surface by the aminolysis time, and the kinetic equations of hydroxyapataite growth.  The introduction of amino groups and chitosan on electrospun PDLLA fibers enhanced the cell proliferation due to the improved surface wettability and alleviated dimensional shrinkage.  The fibrous nanocomposites should have potential applications as functional coatings on medical devices and as scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.  (RDC 12/22/2010)

10/29/2010
Photo-crosslinking copolymers based polyanhydride and 1G polyamidoamine-methacrylamide as bone tissue engineering: Synthesis, characterization, and in vitro degradation 
(1961-1968) Polymer Degradation and Stability 95 #10 (2010)
Shi et al found that copolymer with 50–60 wt% polyamidoamine-double bond show more excellent mechanical properties compared with other formulations.  Copolymers degraded mainly by surface erosion but the bulk erosion pattern also appeared at the initial time of degradation for formulation 30% and 40%. The material was expected to be useful for drug controlled delivery, tissue engineering scaffold and other biomedical applications.  (RDC 12/10/2010)

Multifunctionalized Electrospun Silk Fibers Promote Axon Regeneration in the Central Nervous System
(4232–4242) Advanced Functional Materials 21  #22 (2011)
Wittmer et al Massachusetts, Germany and France, prepared silk-protein materials  using electrospinning.  The addition of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) or both to the electrospun fibers enables enhanced function without impact to the structure or the surface morphology.  Compared with unfunctionalized fibers, the growth of neurites increases 2-fold on fibers containing BDNF, 2.5-fold on fibers containing CNTF and almost 3-fold on fibers containing both factors. (RDC 11/16/2011)

Electrospinning of Hyperbranched Poly-L-Lysine/Polyaniline Nanofibers for Application in Cardiac Tissue Engineering
(1203 – 1207) Journal of Macromolecular Science Part A - Pure and Applied Chemistry 48 #12 (2011)
Fernandes et al observed that the application of electrical current stimulates the differentiation of cardiac cells cultured on the nanofiber scaffolds.  (RDC 10/9/2010)

In vitro biocompatibility of electrospun silk fibroin mats with Schwann cells
( 3490–3494)Journal of Applied Polymer  Science 119 #6 (2010)
Xu et al showed that the electrospun SF mats had a nanofibrous structure with favorable physical properties and supported the survival and growth of the cultured Schwann cells. The results suggest that the electrospun SF mats might become a candidate scaffold for tissue-engineered nerve grafts to promote peripheral nerve regeneration.  (RDC 12/9/2010)

To get to the abstract or article, copy the citation and paste it into favorite search engine (ex. Google). The date is the date the entry was found. 8/14/2009 Rheological behavior of LDPE/CaCO3 blends containing EAA (p 1212-1217) Polymer Composites 30 #9 (2009)