Supercritical CO2 technology for one-pot foaming and sterilization of polymeric scaffolds for bone regeneration

Sterilization is a quite challenging step in the development of novel polymeric scaffolds for regenerative medicine since conventional sterilization techniques may significantly alter their morphological and physicochemical properties. Supercritical (sc) sterilization, i.e. use scCO2 as sterilizing agent, emerges promising method due to mild operational conditions excellent penetration capability. In this work, protocol was implemented one-pot preparation poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL)/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds. The were established after screening against both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) vegetative bacteria spores Bacillus stearothermophilus, pumilus atrophaeus. transition from (140 bar, 39 °C) compressed foaming (60 26 performed through controlled depressurization (3.2 bar/min) CO2 liquid flow. Controlled depressurization/pressurization cycles subsequently applied. Using technology toolbox, sterile well-controlled pore architecture obtained. This procedure successfully achieved not only SAL-6 well-known resistant endospores but also improved scaffold morphologies compared standard gamma radiation procedures.