Architecture control of three-dimensional polymeric scaffolds for soft tissue engineering. I. Establishment and validation of numerical models

Abstract

One of the most important functions of artificial three-dimensional (3D) polymeric scaffolds is to serve as a physical support to provide tissues with an appropriate architecture for in vitro cell culture as well as in vivo tissue regeneration. The production of three-dimensional (3D) polymeric scaffolds with tailored macroporous architecture is thus a crucial step in promoting controlled vascularization and tissue growth within host environments. In this study, 3D poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds were manufactured by a thermally induced phase-separation (TIPS) technique. By controlling the quenching strategy, 3D interconnected PLGA scaffolds with tunable pore size and alignmen..