Which statement about solvent casting and particulate leaching is true?

In the process of solvent casting and particulate leaching, the polymer is initially dissolved in a solvent to create a homogenous solution. Upon casting this solution into a mold, the solvent evaporates, which allows the polymer to solidify into a specific shape. After casting, particulate materials, which are often used to create a porous structure, are added to the polymer solution before evaporation. When the solvent evaporates, it removes the particulate matter rather than dissolving it, which results in a porous morphology as these particles are removed. This allows the polymer matrix to take on a defined structure in which voids are left behind, creating porosity, which is essential for tissue engineering applications.

The assertion that the polymer dissolves, leading to a porous structure, accurately describes the mechanism. Therefore, this statement is true. The other choices either misinterpret the process or incorrectly describe the roles of the solute, solvent, and particles in the solvent casting and particulate leaching method.