Non-Destructive Characterization of the Morphology of a Polymer Co-Extruded Scaffold Using Optical Coherence Tomography

Published

December 19, 2001

Author(s)

Joy P. Dunkers, N Washburn, Carl G. Simon Jr., Alamgir Karim, Eric J. Amis

Abstract

It is generally understood that a complex interaction of many variables controls the success of cell infiltration, proliferation, and differentiation within a tissue scaffold. One parameter that has a large influence on the development of functioning tissue is the microstructure of the scaffold itself. Here, we utilize optical coherence tomography (OCT), to non-destructively characterize the microstructure of a co-extruded blend. OCT provides us with a volumertic image of the pore size, size distribution, and connectivity. This information is available in a limited degree only using traditional destructive characterization. Another advantage of using OCT is that time dependent properties such as is that cell proliferation and scaffold degradation can be monitored in vitro on the same scaffold. This work will present OCT microstructure characterization of a poly(e-caprolactone) and poly(ethylene oxide) co-extruded blend.

Citation

Society for Biomaterials

Volume

1

Issue

1

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

extrusion, morphology, non-destructive, optical, polymer, scaffold, tomography

Citation

Dunkers, J. , Washburn, N. , Simon, C. , Karim, A. and Amis, E. (2001), Non-Destructive Characterization of the Morphology of a Polymer Co-Extruded Scaffold Using Optical Coherence Tomography, Society for Biomaterials, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=851812 (Accessed October 11, 2025)