| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺灣科技大學 === 高分子系 === 97 === This study discusses the preparation and characteristics of gelatin/PCL scaffolds for application in skin tissue engineering. In order to enhance cell adhesion and growth, we chose protein matrix - gelatin produced by hydration of animal collagen that has the similar chemical structures compared to human tissues, as the main component for preparation of the brand new scaffolds. Considering the high degradability of gelatin, the addition of PCL for formulation of gelatin/PCL scaffolds is necessary to increase the mechanical strength and resist rapid absorption in vivo. Moreover, the pore size of scaffolds should be well controlled to enable for efficient penetration of PCL/chloroform solution into porous gelatin matrix and thereby good coverage of gelatin component with PCL after solvent evaporation.
In the preparation of gelatin matrix, the phase diagram of gelatin/distilled water system could be simply separated into two areas including gel-sol transitional zone and sol-gel transitional zone. The gelatin solution initially presented homogeneous and transparent in consistence, exhibited a triple-helix structure after gel was formed. Gelatin matrix was then prepared by freeze-drier technique to form multiple porous structures. As a result, distinct pore size of different formulation of gelatin matrix was measured. The junction point of the phase diagram of gelatin/distilled water system was increased with gelatin concentration and decreased with average pore size.
Suitable pore size of scaffolds is critical for cell ingrowth. Furthermore, adequate pore size of gelatin matrix will enable for PCL/chloroform solution penetration and thereby good coverage of gelatin by PCL. In preparation of gelatin/PCL scaffolds, better penetration rate of PCL was observed in the group of 2 wt% indicating a promising porosity. A better protein release curve was further shown in the 1:10 w/w gelatin/PCL scaffold according to the BCA assay and colorimetry. Good biocompatibility of 1:10 w/w (2 wt%) gelatin/PCL scaffold was finally proven by cell growth curve, SEM and fluorescence microscopy in vitro.
To investigate the degradation rate of 1:10 w/w (2 wt%) gelatin/PCL scaffolds, gel permeation chromatography was used to analyze the changes of molecular weight and polydisperse (PDI) of materials in both culture medium alone and fibroblast culture conditions.
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