Determination of pore size of PLLA mebranes and analyses of their microstructure

DETERMINATION OF PORE SIZE OF PLLA MEBRANES AND ANALYSES OF THEIR MICROSTRUCTURE Çiğdem BOZDEMİR Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü Biyomekanik Anabilim Dalı 35340 İnciraltı/İzmir Development of the biodegradable materials have caused renewable interest for investigating of interactions with living organism aiming at having produced products compatible for using as temporary materials at the implants. Poly-L-lactide (PLLA) is a biodegradable thermoplastic polyester and has been the subject of many recent studies because of its excellent biocompatibility and mechanical properties, PLLA and its random or block copolymers have been used for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery systems, implant materials for bone fixation and bioabsorbable surgical sutures. Both having structures based on cellulose and without cellulose membranes are formed by PLLA solution with the concentration of 8 Wt% prepared with methylene chloride solution. The basic difference among these membranes is PLLA content with alternating amounts. Morphologic characteristics of the obtained membranes have been investigated with the characterization methods, such as SEM, AFM and IR analyses. As a result of our study made about qualifications of the PLLA membranes, that porous structures which will provide the integration of cells are convenient is appeared at this study, too. When PLLA membrane is considered as the structure which will easily provide adaptation and facility for connecting to mechanical and other smilations at the cell cultures, our study has guided forthcoming researches about this subject at encouraging characteristics Keywords: Poly-L-lactide; Biocompatibility; Surface morphology; Porosity.