Parameter Screening and Optimization for a Polycaprolactone-Based GTR/GBR Membrane Using Taguchi Design.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Materials Engineering

Background:

• Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) and guided bone regeneration (GBR) membranes are crucial for defect healing.
• Polycaprolactone (PCL) and chicken eggshell membrane (ESM) offer potential for novel GTR/GBR membrane development.
• Optimizing material composition and processing parameters is essential for desired membrane properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine and optimize parameters influencing mechanical properties and mean fiber diameter (MFD) of PCL/ESM membranes.
• To investigate the effects of PCL, ESM, nano-hydroxyapatite (HAp) concentrations, and electrospinning parameters.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of electrospun PCL/ESM membrane specimens (n=16) with varying component concentrations and electrospinning parameters.
• Utilized Design of Experiments (DOE++) software for parameter variation and optimization.
• Employed Taguchi orthogonal array (L8) and ANOVA to screen significant factors affecting MFD and mechanical properties (tensile strength, elastic modulus).

Main Results:

• ESM and HAp concentrations, applied voltage, flow rate, spinneret-collector distance, and PCL wt%/applied voltage interaction significantly affected elastic modulus.
• PCL and ESM concentrations were significant factors influencing MFD.
• No significant factors were found to affect tensile strength; however, optimization predicted a maximal TS of 3.125 MPa.

Conclusions:

• Identified key parameters controlling mechanical properties and MFD for PCL/ESM membranes.
• Optimization via DOE++ predicted achievable maximal tensile strength, modulus, and MFD.
• Findings provide a foundation for developing advanced PCL/ESM membranes for GTR/GBR applications.