Mechanical properties of porous crosslinked poly(ethyl-acrylate) for tissue engineering

Scaffolds of crosslinked poly(ethyl-acrylate) were prepared by polymerizing the monomer over a template made from Nylon fabrics compressed with different pressures; cylindrical pores in three dimensions of around 80 microns were obtained. Sample porosity and their mechanical, thermal and morphological properties were measured. Different models were analysed with the finite element method, studying the effect of the pore size and geometry on the effective properties of the scaffolds. The diameter of the pore did not influence the effective mechanical properties of the scaffold. The densification on compression of the scaffold due to pore collapse was identified on the stress–strain curve, and a correlation between the onset of this process on that curve and scaffold porosity was established.