Ordered structures of biopolymer solution generated by phase separation - Fourier analysis of the phase structure -

Abstract

Fine ordered structures occurring in a phase separation process of the solution of gelatin (natural biopolymer) and poly(ethylene glycol) (synthetic polymer) were observed by an optical microscope. Methods to quantitatively analyze the degree of orderliness in the observed structures using a Fourier transform technique were developed. Such ordered morphologies as network or porous structures made by biocompatible polymers should lead to biodegradable custom-made scaffolds for the dental tissue engineering.