Developing models to predict mechanical behavior of PCL/PHBV composites for tissue Engineering: A response surface...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Computational Modeling

Background:

• Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and Polycaprolactone (PCL) blends are crucial for bone tissue engineering.
• Scaffold properties vary significantly with polymer ratios and porosity, impacting suitability for diverse bone mechanical demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a predictive model for PHBV/PCL scaffolds using Response Surface Methodology (RSM).
• To correlate scaffold porosity and polymer composition with physicochemical and mechanical properties.
• To guide efficient scaffold design for bone tissue engineering applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of 13 PHBV/PCL scaffolds with varying porosities.
• Experimental characterization of scaffold properties (contact angle, water uptake, mechanical testing).
• Development of numerical models using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) for property prediction.

Main Results:

• Scaffold properties were strongly influenced by polymer ratio and porosity.
• Increasing porosity in PCL-based scaffolds significantly increased water uptake and altered contact angles.
• Elastic modulus ranged from 34-931 MPa (wet) and 6-287 MPa (dried).
• RSM models achieved high predictive accuracy (R² = 0.93-0.99).

Conclusions:

• Response Surface Methodology is a reliable tool for predicting PHBV/PCL scaffold properties.
• The predictive model can accelerate scaffold optimization for bone tissue engineering.
• This approach supports tailored scaffold design based on specific bone tissue requirements.