The use of biodegradable polymers in temporary surgical and pharmacological applications has become a prominent part of polymer research. Poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) is widely studied for tissue engineering applications due to its relatively suitable degradation period and biocompatibility. Micro-porous particles are useful in soft-tissue bulking due to their relatively large surface area, low density and high degree of porosity. In this study, the authors have developed ported porous PCL particles for soft-tissue bulking, using an oil-in-water emulsion with an internal bicarbonate phase which evolves carbon dioxide gas on reaction with a cetic acid thereby producing ports in the structure.
Reference:
Barnard, A, Kotzé-Jacobs, L and Moolman, S. Optimisation of ported yield of hemispherical ported microparticles for soft tissue augmentation. International Conference on the Frontiers of Polymers and Advanced Materials (ICFPAM), Pretoria, South Africa, 22-27 May 2011
Barnard, A., Kotzé-Jacobs, L., & Moolman, S. (2011). Optimisation of ported yield of hemispherical ported microparticles for soft tissue augmentation. Institute of Applied Materials, University of Pretoria. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/5824
Barnard, A, L Kotzé-Jacobs, and S Moolman. "Optimisation of ported yield of hemispherical ported microparticles for soft tissue augmentation." (2011): http://hdl.handle.net/10204/5824
Barnard A, Kotzé-Jacobs L, Moolman S, Optimisation of ported yield of hemispherical ported microparticles for soft tissue augmentation; Institute of Applied Materials, University of Pretoria; 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/5824 .