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A Novel Versatile Process for the Production of Polymer Foams

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

V.P. Shastri
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
I. Martin
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical EngineeringHarvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, email: prasha@amit.edu
R. Langer
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
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Abstract

Porous polymeric media are used in several applications such as solid supports for separations and catalysis, as well as biomedical applications such as vascular grafts and wound dressings. We have developed a novel versatile process to produce polymeric cellular solids. This process which is based on a phase extraction-co-polymer precipitation is applicable to a wide range of polymer systems including water soluble polymers. It is capable of yielding polymer foams of high porosity (> 90%) and excellent mechanical characteristics in a very short time (less than 2 hours) without limitations in foam thickness. Polymer foam with such characteristics have great utility in tissue engineering applications. We have successfully explored polymer foams of biocompatible polymers produced by the presented approach for bone and cartilage engineering using bone marrow stromal cells.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1999

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