TY - JOUR

T1 - In situ characterization of polycaprolactone fiber response to quasi-static tensile loading in scanning electron microscopy

AU - Delp, Alexander

AU - Becker, Alexander

AU - Hülsbusch, Daniel

AU - Scholz, Ronja

AU - Müller, Marc

AU - Glasmacher, Birgit

AU - Walther, Frank

N1 - Funding Information: The research project is supported by the DFG in the framework of the Research Unit 2180 “Graded Implants for Tendon-Bone Junctions”. Acknowledgments: We acknowledge financial support by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and Technische Universität Dortmund/TU Dortmund University within the funding programme Open Access Publishing. We thank Michael Bode, Miriam Walter and Gioia Busse for their great support.

PY - 2021/6/24

Y1 - 2021/6/24

N2 - Microstructural responses to the mechanical load of polymers used in tissue engineering is notably important for qualification at in vivo testing, although insufficiently studied, especially regarding promising polycaprolactone (PCL). For further investigations, electrospun PCL scaffolds with different degrees of fiber alignment were produced, using two discrete relative drum collector velocities. Development and preparation of an adjusted sample geometry enabled in situ tensile testing in scanning electron microscopy. By analyzing the microstructure and the use of selected tracking techniques, it was possible to visualize and quantify fiber/fiber area displacements as well as local fractures of single PCL fibers, considering quasi-static tensile load and fiber alignment. The possibility of displacement determination using in situ scanning electron microscopy techniques for testing fibrous PCL scaffolds was introduced and quantified.

AB - Microstructural responses to the mechanical load of polymers used in tissue engineering is notably important for qualification at in vivo testing, although insufficiently studied, especially regarding promising polycaprolactone (PCL). For further investigations, electrospun PCL scaffolds with different degrees of fiber alignment were produced, using two discrete relative drum collector velocities. Development and preparation of an adjusted sample geometry enabled in situ tensile testing in scanning electron microscopy. By analyzing the microstructure and the use of selected tracking techniques, it was possible to visualize and quantify fiber/fiber area displacements as well as local fractures of single PCL fibers, considering quasi-static tensile load and fiber alignment. The possibility of displacement determination using in situ scanning electron microscopy techniques for testing fibrous PCL scaffolds was introduced and quantified.

KW - Damage mechanisms

KW - Electrospinning

KW - Fiber orientation

KW - In situ tensile testing

KW - Microstructure

KW - Polycaprolactone

KW - Scanning electron microscopy

KW - Tissue engineering

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85109337006&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3390/polym13132090

DO - 10.3390/polym13132090

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85109337006

VL - 13

JO - Polymers

JF - Polymers

SN - 2073-4360

IS - 13

M1 - 2090

ER -