A novel processing method for injection‐molded polyether–urethane scaffolds. Part 2: Cellular interactions

Abstract A large‐scale scaffold processing method with injection molding has been successfully developed. Water was used as a foaming agent for the new technique. NaCl was used as a porogen to achieve an open‐cell structure. Organic solvents, which are common foaming agents for polyurethane, where not used. Toxic remains in the polymer were therefore prevented. Biocompatibility tested gave a mean optical density of 81% from WST‐1 proliferation assay. In comparison to the previously study processing method, hot pressing (Haugen H, Ried V, Brunner M, Will J, Wintermantel E. J Mater Sci: Mater Med2004;15:343–346), the current scaffolds had an increase of 20% of the mean optical density. Cell seeding showed that human fibroblasts adhered to the surface and proliferated. The spread of the adhered fibroblasts was uniform on the surface. A quantitative MTT analysis proved that there was a significant (p < 0.01) increase in the OD level after 7 and 14 days of incubation. This cell layer thickened with increased incubation time from 7 to 14 days (p < 0.05) and had typical fibroblast morphology. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2006