Cured biodegradable microparticles and scaffolds and methods of making and using the same
A method of forming cured microparticles includes providing a poly(glycerol sebacate) resin in an uncured state. The method also includes forming the composition into a plurality of uncured microparticles and curing the uncured microparticles to form the plurality of cured microparticles. The uncured microparticles are free of a photo-induced crosslinker. A method of forming a scaffold includes providing microparticles including poly(glycerol sebacate) in a three-dimensional arrangement. The method also includes stimulating the microparticles in the three-dimensional arrangement to sinter the microparticles, thereby forming the scaffold having a plurality of pores. A scaffold is formed of a plurality of microparticles including a poly(glycerol sebacate) thermoset resin in a three-dimensional arrangement. The scaffold has a plurality of pores.
1. A method of forming a plurality of cured microparticles comprising:
providing a composition comprising a poly(glycerol sebacate) resin in an uncured state and lacking a solvent; and
forming the composition into a plurality of uncured microparticles in a phase-incompatible liquid, wherein the phase-incompatible liquid is non-reactive with the poly(glycerol sebacate), the plurality of uncured microparticles being free of a photo-induced crosslinker, and curing the plurality of uncured microparticles to form the plurality of cured microparticles, wherein the plurality of cured microparticles are free of a photo-induced crosslinker;
wherein the poly(glycerol sebacate) resin comprises a poly(glycerol sebacate urethane) resin.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming comprises combining the composition with the phase-incompatible liquid and suspending the plurality of uncured microparticles in a matrix of the phase-incompatible liquid.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the phase-incompatible liquid is an oil.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming comprises shear mixing the composition in the phase-incompatible liquid.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming comprises metering the composition into a vessel containing the phase-incompatible liquid.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the vessel is a vertical column and the metering is with a needle.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming comprises sonicating the composition into the phase-incompatible liquid.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the curing comprises conductively heating the plurality of uncured microparticles.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the curing comprises applying microwave radiation to the plurality of uncured microparticles.
10. The method of claim 1 further comprising loading the poly(glycerol sebacate) resin with at least one controlled release agent.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cured microparticles are free of photoinitiators.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of uncured microparticles consists of the poly(glycerol sebacate) resin.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the poly(glycerol sebacate) resin further comprises a poly(glycerol sebacate acrylate) resin.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming the composition into a plurality of uncured microparticles occurs without a mold and the curing the plurality of uncured microparticles to form the plurality of cured microparticles occurs without a mold.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the poly(glycerol sebacate) resin has a weight average molecular weight in the range of from about 5,000 to about 50,000 Da.
16. A method of forming a scaffold comprising:
providing a plurality of microparticles comprising poly(glycerol sebacate) in a three-dimensional arrangement; and
stimulating the plurality of microparticles comprising poly(glycerol sebacate) in the three-dimensional arrangement to sinter the plurality of microparticles, thereby forming the scaffold having a plurality of pores;
wherein the plurality of microparticles comprising poly(glycerol sebacate) in the three-dimensional arrangement further comprise a coating of poly(glycerol sebacate) resin-based glue.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the stimulating comprises applying microwave radiation.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the stimulating comprises convectively heating.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the stimulating comprises curing uncured portions of the poly(glycerol sebacate) in the plurality of microparticles.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of microparticles comprising poly(glycerol sebacate) comprises a plurality of micronized poly(glycerol sebacate) thermoset filler particles.
21. The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of microparticles comprising poly(glycerol sebacate) further comprise at least one controlled release agent.
22. The method of claim 16 , wherein the three-dimensional arrangement provides the scaffold with a spherical shape of a shell around a hollow core.
23. The method of claim 16 , wherein the providing a plurality of microparticles comprising poly(glycerol sebacate) comprises providing a plurality of spherical microparticles comprising poly(glycerol sebacate).