Preparation and Characterization of Plasma-Treated Porous Poly(glycerol sebacate) Scaffolds

Abstract

In this study, poly (glycerol sebacate) (PGS) was initially synthesized via condensation polymerization of glycerol and sebacic acid at equimolar ratio (1:1) at 130°C for 24 h. The number average molecular weight (Mn) of the resulting polymer determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) was about 2800 g/mol. Porous PGS scaffolds were subsequently prepared by a particle-leaching technique. NaCl was added into the polymer at 60-90% w/w; the mixtures were cured in Teflon molds at 140°C for 16 h. The porous scaffolds were further subjected to surface treatment with low pressure oxygen plasma to increase surface carboxyl and hydroxyl groups and thereby enhance hydrophilicity of PGS scaffold surface. The surface morphology and wettability of both untreated PGS and plasma-treated PGS scaffolds were comparatively determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and water contact angle measurement, respectively. A considerable decrease in water contact angle was observed on the PGS scaffolds after the plasma treatment. The surface chemistry, mechanical strength and degree of swelling of the PGS scaffolds were also assessed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and swelling measurement, respectively.