Fabrication and characterization of novel nano‐ and micro‐HA/PCL composite scaffolds using a modified rapid prototyping process

Abstract

Novel three‐dimensional scaffolds consisting of nano‐ and microsized hydroxyapatite (HA)/poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) (PCL) composite were fabricated using a modified rapid‐prototyping (RP) technique for bone tissue engineering applications. The size of the nano‐HA ranged from 20 to 90 nm, whereas that of the micro‐HA ranged from 20 to 80 μm. The scaffold macropores were well interconnected, with a porosity of 72–73% and a pore size of 500 μm. The compressive modulus of the nano‐HA/PCL and micro‐HA/PCL scaffolds was 3.187 ± 0.06 and 1.345 ± 0.05 MPa, respectively. The higher modulus of the nano‐HA/PCL composite (n‐HPC) was to be likely caused by a dispersion strengthening effect. The attachment and proliferation of MG‐63 cells on n‐HPC were better than that on the micro‐HA/PCL composite (m‐HPC) scaffold. The n‐HPC was more hydrophilic than the m‐HPC because of the greater surface area of HA exposed to the scaffold surface. This may give rise to better cell attachment and proliferation. Bioactive n‐HA/PCL composite scaffold prepared using a modified RP technique has a potential application in bone tissue engineering. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2009