Direct-Current Treatment as a Safe Sterilization Method for Electrospun Biodegradable Polymer
Authors
Hye-Lee Kim ; Jeong Hyun Lee ; Mi Hee Lee ; Hak Hee Kim ; Jungsung Kim ; Inho Han ; Bong Joo Park ; Jeong Koo Kim ; Dong Wook Han ; Soo Hyun Kim ; Seung Jin Lee ; Jong-Chul Park
Citation
TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, Vol.8(3) : 320-325, 2011
Sterilization is an essential process for biodegradable polymers to be used as biomaterials or tissue engineered-
scaffolds. The characteristics of biodegradable scaffolds can change due to decomposition of constituent
polymers due to high temperature, pressure, or moisture during sterilization. This study investigated direct–current
(DC) treatment as a safe method that can prevent structural change and deformation. Treatment of electrospun poly
(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) with DC showed a bactericidal effect within 40 sec at 4 V. When DC was applied
at 6 V to the electrospun PLGA, the bactericidal effect emerged within 30 sec. The morphology of fibers and molecular
weight of PLGA polymer was maintained after DC treatment. In contrast, electrospun PLGA exposed to ethylene
oxide showed fiber degradation, and gamma or e-beam irradiation resulted in decreased molecular weight. The
demonstrated improvement in chemical and physical stability of biodegradable polymers after DC sterilization may
help extend their application.