Different processing methods to obtain porous structure in shape memory polymers

In the last few years, clinical procedures undergone huge modifications. Among them, mini-invasive surgery has modified the clinical practice and the quality of life of patients. Shape Memory Polymers (SMPs), a class of stimuli-responsive materials, can be considered ideal candidates for the design of devices for mini-invasive surgical procedures. Such a device can be inserted in a packed in, temporary shape and later can expand at body temperature. A bone defect could be filled by a SMP porous structure, that improves the tissue integration and healing. In this work, two different processing techniques to obtain porous shape memory polymer scaffolds from Calo MER™ and MM-4520, two SMPs, are presented. Porous structures were obtained by micro-extrusion with different chemical foaming agents or with sodium chloride, or by solvent casting/particulate leaching. The morphology, the thermo-mechanical and the shape recovery properties of the SMP porous samples were investigated. Tridimensional porous structures showed a well interconnected morphology, with a pore size in the range aimed for bone interaction applications. The shape memory properties were not significantly affected by the transformation processes: a good ability of recovering the original shape was verified. Therefore, the porous structures, obtained from these SMP materials, appear adequate for an use as bone filler.