Synthesis and properties of caprolactone and ethylene glycol copolymers for neural regeneration.

Copolymer networks from poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGMA) and caprolactone 2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl ester were synthesized and the resulting structure of the copolymer network was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, equilibrium water gain and dynamic mechanical analysis, results which were employed to conclude about the network structure of the resulting copolymers. The new material is a random copolymer with a good miscibility and increasing hydrophilicity as the PEGMA content increases in the composition. Physical data suggest an excess free volume and synergistic interactions between the lateral chains of both comonomers.

Chitosan microparticles as injectable scaffolds for tissue engineering.

The use of chitosan microparticles as injectable carriers for cell transplantation represents a promising alternative to avoid the drawbacks of the implantation of other forms of three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds seeded with cells. In this study, a 3D construct is obtained in vitro by combining chitosan microparticles crosslinked with genipin and goat bone marrow stromal cells (GBMCs). Cell viability and the morphology of GBMCs were evaluated after culture for 7 and 14 days.