Development of bioactive PCL films using low temperature solvent free method

• Main Author: Lim, Lynette Sihui
• Other Authors: School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/60787
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This project utilizes cryomilling to refine particle sizes of polycaprolactone (PCL), while creating a homogenous mixture of PCL and MgCl2 at cryogenic (approximately -196oC) temperature. In this report, PCL/ MgCl2 of varying concentrations, 0 to 20% MgCl2 were fabricated via cryomilling and thermal press. Characterization tests were subsequently carried out to evaluate the effect of Mg on the physical properties of PCL, and to evaluate the release characteristics of the PCL/ MgCl2 films. The as-fabricated PCL/ MgCl2 films also underwent accelerated in vitro degradation to study its degradation characteristics. The results suggested that MgCl2 salt is highly soluble and therefore provides the highest bioavailability of Mg2+ ions, however, a trade off would be the toughness of the films. Next, suture retention tests indicated that with Mg incorporated into PCL, the films would be able to withstand great pressures if they were to be implanted under in vivo conditions. In addition, for thermal properties, Mg generally caused slight decrease in PCL crystallinity over the duration of the degradation, which might be due to reorganization of PCL polymer chains. For the release profile of Mg, results revealed that 20% PCL/ MgCl2 could release 9.52 mM of Mg in 1 ml of deionized (DI) water under a time period of 4 hours. Lastly, degradation of PCL/ MgCl2 in NaOH suggested that an increase in Mg incorporation led to an increase in the recorded mass loss. The data collected corresponded well to literature review and hypothesis. In conclusion, based on the evaluation of the results, 10% MgCl2 has the potential to be developed as a bone scaffold.