Pickering high internal phase emulsion templated poly(ε-caprolactone) scaffolds functionalized using type 1 collagen
Meenal Agrawal1, Doyel Ghosal2, Bhanu Nandan1
1Department of Textile and Fibre Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, Delhi, 110016, India. rajiv@iitd.ac.in.
Journal of Materials Chemistry. B
|March 5, 2026
Summary
This study developed novel poly(ε-caprolactone) bone scaffolds using hydroxyethyl cellulose and collagen. These enhanced scaffolds show improved mechanical properties and significantly increased cell activity for bone regeneration.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Autologous and allogeneic grafts face limitations for bone defect repair.
- Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) Pickering high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) scaffolds are promising but lack bioactivity and are hydrophobic.
- Enhancing PCL scaffolds is crucial for effective bone regeneration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop functionalized PCL-based Pickering HIPE scaffolds with improved properties for bone regeneration.
- To incorporate hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) for enhanced hydrophilicity and mechanical strength.
- To immobilize type 1 collagen for improved biological activity.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of PCL Pickering HIPE scaffolds using HEC as a macroinitiator and hydrophobically modified silica nanoparticles (mSiNP) as stabilizers.
- Functionalization of scaffolds with type 1 collagen via Malaprade oxidation and Schiff base chemistry.
- Characterization of scaffold properties including contact angle, mechanical strength, collagen presence (EDX, antibody staining), and cytocompatibility (metabolic activity, cell morphology).
Main Results:
- The HEC-modified scaffolds exhibited increased hydrophilicity (contact angle decreased to ~66°) and enhanced compressional stress (~64.6 kPa).
- Type 1 collagen was uniformly immobilized onto the scaffold surface, confirmed by EDX and antibody staining.
- Collagen-functionalized scaffolds showed a 3-fold increase in metabolic activity and improved cell spreading compared to unfunctionalized scaffolds.
Conclusions:
- The developed PCL-HEC-collagen scaffolds offer enhanced mechanical properties and bioactivity.
- Collagen functionalization significantly promotes cell proliferation and attachment, indicating potential for bone regeneration.
- These advanced scaffolds represent a promising alternative to traditional bone grafts for treating refractory bone defects.
