Transfer of collagen coating from porogen to scaffold: Collagen coating within poly( dl-lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffold

Abstract

Using paraffin micro-spheres as porogen, this paper addressed a novel method to coat collagen onto the internal pore surface within poly( dl-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffold with controlled pore size. The paraffin micro-spheres with desirable size were mixed with collagen solution (0.5–1.0% w/v), molded to form a paraffin micro-sphere scaffold, and dried. The collagen was left on the surface of the paraffin micro-spheres and even among the paraffin micro-spheres. PLGA solution was then cast into the interspace of the paraffin/collagen scaffold and dried. After the paraffin micro-spheres were dissolved and removed, PLGA scaffold with controlled pore size, good interconnectivity and high porosity was obtained. Collagen was transferred from the paraffin micro-spheres to the surfaces of the pore wall. Observation of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that collagen was coated on the paraffin micro-spheres and was on the surfaces of pore wall within PLGA scaffold. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) also detected the presence of collagen in the PLGA scaffold so formed; and there was no apparent change on the molecular components of collagen during the experimental procedure.