Early Biological Response to Poly(ε-caprolactone) PCL-Bioactive Glass Composites Obtained by 3D Printing as Bone...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Materials Engineering

Background:

• The demand for advanced bone substitutes with osteogenic and angiogenic properties is rising.
• Bioactive glasses are promising candidates due to their inherent biological activity.
• Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is a widely used biodegradable polymer for biomedical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize PCL-based composites incorporating pristine (SBA3) and copper-doped (SBA3_Cu) bioactive glasses.
• To evaluate the mechanical properties, surface characteristics, and ion release of the developed composites.
• To assess the biocompatibility and cellular response of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) and human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) on these materials.

Main Methods:

• Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) composites were fabricated using solvent casting with 10 wt.% SBA3 or SBA3_Cu bioactive glasses.
• 3D printed samples were analyzed using SEM and EDX for structural and elemental composition.
• Mechanical testing (tensile strength, hardness), surface analysis (roughness, free energy, contact angle), and ion release studies (ICP-OES) were performed.
• In vitro biocompatibility was assessed using ASCs and HMEC-1, evaluating cell adhesion, spreading, proliferation, and morphology.

Main Results:

• PCL composites with bioactive glasses exhibited improved tensile strength and hardness, particularly the copper-doped variant.
• Both SBA3 and SBA3_Cu enhanced the adhesion and proliferation of human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1).
• ASCs showed significantly higher proliferation on the SBA3-containing composite compared to neat PCL and SBA3_Cu composites.
• Cellular morphology analysis revealed distinct adaptation patterns of both cell types to the composite surfaces.

Conclusions:

• PCL composites containing bioactive glasses, especially the copper-doped version, demonstrate enhanced mechanical properties and support endothelial cell growth.
• The specific type of bioactive glass influences the proliferation of different cell types, with SBA3 favoring ASCs.
• These PCL-bioactive glass composites show potential as smart bone substitutes, but further research is needed to elucidate cell-material interactions.