Electrospun PCL/Gelatin hybrid fibrous scaffold containing biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) as a novel bone substitutes

In recent years, nanotechnology-based research for studying tissue engineering application for bone regeneration has been developed. Researchers become more interested in producing nanofibrous structures that closely mimic extracellular matrix of body tissues. Electrospinning is the best methods for fabricating these webs. In this study, Polycaprolactone (PCL) as synthetic polymer with concentration 20% (w/v), gelatin (Gel) as natural polymer with concentration 15% (w/v) & acetic acid 90% as the solvent were used. Biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) particles were dispersed into each one of PCL & Gel solutions separately, and hybrid fibrous scaffolds were manufactured using an electrospinning process. BCP powders with different percentages (1, 3 & 5 wt%), a mixture of hydroxyapatite (Hap) and TCP that are Calcium phosphate based ceramics, were used as bone-replacement materials in PCL/Gel hybrid Scaffold. To optimize the electrospinning parameters and its effect on the fiber diameter, response surface methodology (RSM) was used. SEM was used to investigate the morphological characteristic of nanofibrous webs and showed that the surface morphology of the PCL/Gel/BCP composite fibrous scaffolds were rough compared to pure PCL/Gel scaffolds. The composite fibers with the best morphology was chosen for biological investigation. BCP inorganic particles loaded in PCL & Gel polymers can improve the bioactivity and osteoconductivity of electrospun scaffolds. In investigation osteoblast cells growth on the scaffolds surface, positivity enhance in cell attachment, proliferation have seen. The results showed that PCL/Gel/BCP electrospun scaffolds can be used for bone tissue regeneration.

Keywords:

Electrospinning , biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) , polycaprolactone , gelatin , composite nanofibers