Recent advances of electrospun poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) fibers for biomedical applications

Poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) is a biodegradable elastomer that integrates the complementary properties of poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), providing a unique balance between mechanical strength and elasticity. The physicochemical properties of PLCL are strongly governed by its molecular architecture, which is defined by synthesis parameters and directly influences mechanical performance, thermal behavior, and degradation kinetics. Understanding these structure-property relationships is essential for the rational design of electrospun fibrous scaffolds for biomedical applications, which have attracted increasing interest in recent years. This review comprehensively summarizes recent advances in electrospun PLCL-based scaffolds. The influence of electrospinning parameters on fiber morphology and functional performance is critically discussed. A comparative analysis highlights the distinct advantages of PLCL in terms of elasticity, degradation behavior, and biological response. Applications across diverse fields of regenerative medicine are discussed, including skin regeneration and wound healing, cardiovascular, neural, musculoskeletal, urogenital, periodontal, and airway tissue engineering. In addition, commonly used in vitro and in vivo models are summarized. Overall, this review provides design guidelines for advanced PLCL-based biomaterials, highlighting both well-established applications and underexplored areas with significant translational potential.