Optimization of the activation and nucleation steps in the precipitation of a calcium phosphate primer layer on...

The present study aimed to optimize the procedure for coating electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) fibers with a calcium phosphate (CP) layer in order to improve their potential as bone tissue engineering scaffold. In particular, attention was paid to the reproducibility of the procedure, the morphology of the coating, and the preservation of the porous structure of the scaffold. Ethanol dipping followed by an ultrasonic assisted hydrolysis of the fiber surface with sodium hydroxide solution efficiently activated the surface. The resulting reactive groups served as nucleation points for CP precipitation, induced by alternate dipping of the samples in calcium and phosphate rich solutions. By controlling the deposition, a reproducible thin layer of CP was grown onto the fiber surface. The deposited CP was identified as calcium-deficient apatite (CDHAp). Analysis of the cell viability, adhesion, and proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells on untreated and CDHAp coated PCL scaffolds showed that the CDHAp coating enhanced the cell response, as the number of attached cells was higher in comparison to the untreated PCL and cells on the CDHAp coated samples showed similar morphologies as the ones found in the positive control.