Supercritical CO2 Foaming of Thermoplastic Materials Derived from Maize: Proof-of-Concept Use in Mammalian Cell Culture Applications

摘要: Background Foams are high porosity and low density materials. In nature, they a common architecture. Some of their relevant technological applications include heat sound insulation, lightweight materials, tissue engineering scaffolds. Foams derived from natural polymers particularly attractive for culture due to biodegradability bio-compatibility. Here, the foaming potential an extensive list materials was assayed, including slabs elaborated whole flour, starch component only, or protein fraction only maize seeds. Methodology/Principal Findings We used supercritical CO2 produce foams thermoplasticized Polyethylene-glycol, sorbitol/glycerol, urea/formamide were as plasticizers. We report expansion ratios, porosities, average pore sizes, morphologies, size distributions these High obtained zein with polyethylene glycol, urea/formamide. Zein had higher than (88% 85%, respectively) narrower more evenly distributed size. Starch exhibited wider span sizes larger (208.84 vs. 55.43 μm2, respectively). Proof-of-concept cell experiments confirmed that mouse fibroblasts (NIH 3T3) two different prostate cancer lines (22RV1, DU145) attached proliferated on foams. Conclusions/Significance conducted screening proof-of-concept fabrication cereal-based bioplastics. propose key indicator foamability is strain at break be foamed (as calculated stress rate curves). exhibit properties (average size, distribution, porosity) applications; we able establish sustain mammalian cultures extended time periods.