Poly(trimethylene carbonate): structure, properties and use in tissue engineering applications
Salin, Oili (2022)
2022
Tekniikan ja luonnontieteiden tiedekunta - Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2022-06-11
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202205255251
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202205255251
Tiivistelmä
Polytrimethylene carbonate (PTMC) is a biodegradable polymer that is the subject of active research for medical applications due to its biocompatibility and degradation behavior. This thesis is a literary review of PTMC’s structure and properties, and the current tissue engineering applications in which the material has been utilized. The aim of the thesis is to compile the most relevant research results and to form a picture of PTMC's suitability for tissue engineering applications.
PTMC is produced by ring-opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate. The material is often further processed by copolymerization and cross-linking to achieve desired properties such as elasticity and strength. High-molecular weight PTMC has been noted to have better mechanical properties, however it degrades faster in vivo. Porosity of the scaffold is an essential factor for cell ingrowth, but porosity has been noticed to greatly impair the material's mechanical performance.
PTMC is utilized in clinical use in surgical sutures and meshes. Meshes have been studied for abdominal wall reconstructions to reduce postoperative complications. Despite promising research results and clinical availability, the number of tissue engineering studies utilizing PTMC is relatively low. Promising research results on PTMC scaffolds have been obtained in bone, cartilage and tendon applications. Additionally, PTMC has been studied for soft tissue applications, such as hernia and cardiovascular.
This literature review shows that PTMC is an appropriate material for tissue engineering applications. Its properties are easily customizable, and several studies demonstrate the good biocompatibility of PTMC. However, there are also challenges in using the material. In terms of molecular weight, mechanical properties, degradation behavior and porosity, the performance should be carefully examined so that none of these factors broadly affect the overall performance of the material.
PTMC is produced by ring-opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate. The material is often further processed by copolymerization and cross-linking to achieve desired properties such as elasticity and strength. High-molecular weight PTMC has been noted to have better mechanical properties, however it degrades faster in vivo. Porosity of the scaffold is an essential factor for cell ingrowth, but porosity has been noticed to greatly impair the material's mechanical performance.
PTMC is utilized in clinical use in surgical sutures and meshes. Meshes have been studied for abdominal wall reconstructions to reduce postoperative complications. Despite promising research results and clinical availability, the number of tissue engineering studies utilizing PTMC is relatively low. Promising research results on PTMC scaffolds have been obtained in bone, cartilage and tendon applications. Additionally, PTMC has been studied for soft tissue applications, such as hernia and cardiovascular.
This literature review shows that PTMC is an appropriate material for tissue engineering applications. Its properties are easily customizable, and several studies demonstrate the good biocompatibility of PTMC. However, there are also challenges in using the material. In terms of molecular weight, mechanical properties, degradation behavior and porosity, the performance should be carefully examined so that none of these factors broadly affect the overall performance of the material.
Kokoelmat
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