Biomaterials
Selection and Testing
Goal: To select biomaterials that will be biocompatible, biodegradable and cost effective. The materials will be not only compatible with each other, but also process compatible, and provide the structural support necessary for cells to proliferate and migrate through the whole scaffold.
Proposed Materials:
Biopolymer for Electrospinning: Polycaprolactone (PCL)
Hydrogel: Alginic acid sodium salt from brown algae
Crosslinking Agent: Calcium Chloride
Preliminary Testing
Alginate viscosity was measured over a range of weight percents. An optimal viscosity will be chosen upon testing with the syringe pump that was purchased. Gelation times of the alginate with calcium chloride were observed and recorded. The results showed that the amount of time required to crosslink the alginate with the calcium chloride was less than a minute, which is process compatible with our system. Cell viability tests were done at UMDNJ for the process compatibility. Cells suspend in alginate were pumped through the syringe pump at various flow rates. Trypan blue assays show that there was a 60%-70% cell survival rate. Collagen will be used instead of PCL for electrospinning because it is safer and we don't have a fume hood.
Alginate