A novel technique for scaffold fabrication: SLUP (salt leaching using powder)

In this study, we proposed a novel salt-leaching method using PCL and NaCl powders, known as the SLUP (salt leaching using powder) technique, which has several advantages: this technique does not require solvent, pressure, or unnecessary expensive devices. First, PCL powder (100–180 μm size) and NaCl powder (350–400 μm size) were prepared. Second, the PCL and NaCl powders were mixed at a certain ratio, and then the mixed powder was poured into a mold. Afterward, the mold was heated to melt the PCL powder in an oven at 80 °C for 15 min. Subsequently, after the PCL/NaCl mixture was separated from the mold, the PCL/NaCl mixture was soaked in D.I. water for 24 h to leach out the NaCl particles. Consequently, the remaining PCL structure was porous and could be used as a scaffold. To analyze the compressive modulus of the fabricated scaffold, a uniaxial compression test was performed using a UTM (universal testing machine), and the surface characteristics of the scaffold were observed using an SEM (scanning electron microscope). Additionally, cell-culture experiments were performed using hMSCs (human mesenchymal stem cells), and the cell-culture characteristics were assessed and compared with the characteristics from a conventional salt-leaching scaffold.