Controlling Fiber Morphology and Scaffold Design for Treatment of Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Abstract

Polystyrene (PS), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), and polyurethane (PU) were electrospun in various solvents, to ascertain the ideal conditions for reproducible scaffold production, in order to develop a synthetic Bruch's membrane. Effects of different environmental factors under laboratory conditions and controlled conditions, with and without 1% NaCl, were investigated. For PS, environmental conditions were more important than NaCl addition in fiber diameter reduction; however, NaCl addition showed reduced fiber size variation. For PET, reduction in fiber diameter on addition of NaCl compared to controlled environmental conditions was observed. Fiber size variation for PET was unaffected by NaCl addition or controlled conditions.

Keywords:

• AMD
• Bruch's membrane
• electrospinning
• fibers
• PET

Notes

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