Synthesis, Characterization and Biodegradation of Novel Poly(L-lactide)/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Porous Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications

This paper reports on the synthesis and characterization of novel poly(L-lactide)/multi-walled carbon nanotube (PLLA/MWCNT) porous scaffolds prepared by the freeze-extraction method. The obtained scaffolds showed well-distributed and interconnected porous structures with more than 80% porosity and median pore size around 40 mu m distributed within a region between 50 and 150 mu m in size. As a result of high interfacial interaction between PLLA and the MWCNTs, the scaffolds exhibited remarkable improvements in mechanical properties such as strength, modulus and elongation. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed enhanced thermal stability and compatibility for PLLA/MWCNT scaffolds. The structural properties of the scaffolds were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In vitro degradation studies of the scaffolds were assessed by immersing the scaffolds in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) for up to 24 weeks. It was found that the incorporation of MWCNTs in PLLA scaffolds decreased the rate of in vitro degradation.