Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of this research combines the solvent casting/particulate leaching method with Moldflow analysis to analyze the L-type nasal scaffold with PLA (polylactic acid) and PLGA (polylactide-co-glycolide).
METHODS: This research is divided into two parts: First, it takes the solvent casting/particulate leaching method slicing 2-3 mm biomedical porous scaffold, which is made from biomedical polymer material (PLA and PLGA), and observes its connection and the distribution of the apertures through the scanning electronic microscope (SEM). We use the Mercury Porosimetry to measure the porosity of the porous scaffold. This research uses the contact angle instrument to measure the hydrophobic and hydrophilic whether the biomedical polymer was added with hydroxyapatite or not. The second part of this research is to simulate L-type nasal scaffold, which is made of PLA. The geometry is constructed in computer aided design program (Solidworks, Pro/E) and then imported to Moldflow analysis. This Moldflow analysis has four processing parameters and uses Taguchi method to find the optimum processing parameters.
RESULTS: In this work, we observe the pore size is 252-500 μm by scanning electron microscope, and the distribution of the pore, pore interconnectivity is good. The porosity is more than 90%. The average value of contact angle of PLA is 72.5°. If the experiment adds hydroxyapatite, the contact angle increases to 79.0°. That can increase the hydrophobic property. The average value of contact angle of PLGA is 89.4°. If the experiment adds the hydroxyapatite, the contact angle decreases to 71.8°. That can increase the hydrophilic property. In simulation of injection molding process, we can get that the filling time of injection molding is 2.8s, and no short shot occurs. The distribution of temperature is 189~205℃. The difference of temperature is about 20℃. We can get the suitable parameters in L-type scaffold and find the minimum of deflections from the Taguchi method.
CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of the apertures, size and porosity of biomedical porous scaffold, which is made of biomedical polymer material, are under controlled accorded to the designated requirement. According to the contact angle experiment, the idea scaffold should have good hydrophilic and it suits to cultivate the required cells in the future. Besides, this experiment also accomplishes the simulation on injection molding, which uses PLA as the material, to gain the most appropriate parameter for injection molding and found the smallest deflection of the scaffold. The filling time, distribution of the temperature and the distribution of the speed are very good during the simulation and it is proper to take as the mold making reference in the future.
METHODS: This research is divided into two parts: First, it takes the solvent casting/particulate leaching method slicing 2-3 mm biomedical porous scaffold, which is made from biomedical polymer material (PLA and PLGA), and observes its connection and the distribution of the apertures through the scanning electronic microscope (SEM). We use the Mercury Porosimetry to measure the porosity of the porous scaffold. This research uses the contact angle instrument to measure the hydrophobic and hydrophilic whether the biomedical polymer was added with hydroxyapatite or not. The second part of this research is to simulate L-type nasal scaffold, which is made of PLA. The geometry is constructed in computer aided design program (Solidworks, Pro/E) and then imported to Moldflow analysis. This Moldflow analysis has four processing parameters and uses Taguchi method to find the optimum processing parameters.
RESULTS: In this work, we observe the pore size is 252-500 μm by scanning electron microscope, and the distribution of the pore, pore interconnectivity is good. The porosity is more than 90%. The average value of contact angle of PLA is 72.5°. If the experiment adds hydroxyapatite, the contact angle increases to 79.0°. That can increase the hydrophobic property. The average value of contact angle of PLGA is 89.4°. If the experiment adds the hydroxyapatite, the contact angle decreases to 71.8°. That can increase the hydrophilic property. In simulation of injection molding process, we can get that the filling time of injection molding is 2.8s, and no short shot occurs. The distribution of temperature is 189~205℃. The difference of temperature is about 20℃. We can get the suitable parameters in L-type scaffold and find the minimum of deflections from the Taguchi method.
CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of the apertures, size and porosity of biomedical porous scaffold, which is made of biomedical polymer material, are under controlled accorded to the designated requirement. According to the contact angle experiment, the idea scaffold should have good hydrophilic and it suits to cultivate the required cells in the future. Besides, this experiment also accomplishes the simulation on injection molding, which uses PLA as the material, to gain the most appropriate parameter for injection molding and found the smallest deflection of the scaffold. The filling time, distribution of the temperature and the distribution of the speed are very good during the simulation and it is proper to take as the mold making reference in the future.
| Translated title of the contribution | Application of Solvent Casting/Particle Leaching Method in Combination with Moldflow Analysis in Three-dimensional Porous Nasal Scaffolds |
|---|---|
| Original language | Chinese (Traditional) |
| Pages (from-to) | 163-170 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Taiwan Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery |
| Volume | 45 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Publication status | Published - 2010 |