Three-dimensional electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL)/alginate hybrid composite scaffolds

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Micro/nanofibrous scaffolds mimic the natural extracellular matrix, promoting cellular activities.
• Limitations in mechanical properties and structural control hinder their use in hard-tissue regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel composite scaffold system for hard-tissue regeneration.
• To overcome the limitations of traditional micro/nanofibrous scaffolds.

Main Methods:

• A combination of wet electrospinning, rapid prototyping, and physical punching was used to create polycaprolactone (PCL)/alginate composite scaffolds.
• Scaffolds featured electrospun PCL/alginate fibers and micro-sized PCL struts with controlled pore sizes (821 ± 55 μm).
• Physical properties (hydrophilicity, water absorption, mechanical strength) and in vitro cellular responses (viability, proliferation, osteogenic differentiation) were evaluated.

Main Results:

• The composite scaffolds exhibited significantly improved elastic modulus compared to pure PCL scaffolds due to PCL struts.
• Alginate incorporation enhanced hydrophilic behavior and water absorption (approx. 8-fold).
• Significant improvements in biological activities were observed: cell viability (approx. 1.6-fold at 7 days), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity (approx. 2.3-fold at 14 days), and calcium mineralization (approx. 6.4-fold at 14 days) compared to pure PCL scaffolds.

Conclusions:

• The developed PCL/alginate composite scaffolds demonstrate superior mechanical and biological properties for hard-tissue regeneration.
• The combination of electrospinning and rapid prototyping offers a promising approach for creating advanced biomaterials.
• These scaffolds hold potential for applications in bone defect repair and regeneration.