Development of Functionalized Poly(ε-caprolactone)/Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds via Electrospinning 3D for Enhanced Bone...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Biodegradable polymers are crucial for bone tissue engineering scaffolds.
• Functionalized scaffolds enhance bone regeneration.
• Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and hydroxyapatite (HA) are promising materials for bone repair.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop functionalized fibrous scaffolds using PCL and HA.
• To fabricate these scaffolds via a novel electrospinning system adapted from a 3D printer.
• To evaluate the material properties and bone regeneration potential of the PCL/HA scaffolds.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of PCL/HA scaffolds using a short-distance electrospinning system adapted from a 3D printer.
• Characterization of scaffold morphology and chemistry (SEM, XRD, FTIR, TGA).
• Assessment of mechanical properties, in vitro cell viability, and in vivo bone regeneration in a rat calvarial defect model.

Main Results:

• The PCL/HA scaffolds exhibited a porous structure with uniformly distributed hydroxyapatite.
• Scaffolds demonstrated favorable mechanical properties (elasticity, tensile strength).
• In vitro and in vivo studies confirmed high cell viability and enhanced bone regeneration, respectively.

Conclusions:

• The developed PCL/HA scaffolds show significant promise for bone tissue engineering applications.
• The adapted electrospinning system offers an effective method for fabricating functionalized bone scaffolds.
• These findings support the potential of PCL/HA scaffolds for promoting bone repair.