Fabrication and characterization of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) coated silicate and borate-based bioactive glass composite scaffolds

In this study, silicate 13-93 and borate based 13-93B3 bioactive glass scaffolds with high porosity and interconnected pore structure (pore size 100-500 mu m) were prepared by foam replication method. In order to improve the mechanical properties, the scaffolds were coated and infiltrated with a poly(-caprolactone) (PCL) solution at different concentrations (5, 10, and 20wt%). Results revealed that the mechanical properties of the scaffolds were significantly improved by the PCL coating. The addition of 10% PCL coating led to approximately 10-fold increase of compressive strength in comparison with noncoated scaffolds. The bioactivity of scaffolds upon immersion in simulated body fluid was maintained in the PCL-coated scaffolds at all concentrations; however, a decrease in the formation rate and amount of crystalline hydroxyapatite was observed as the PCL concentration was increased in the coating layer. Degradation rate of the borate-based bioactive glass scaffolds was tailored by the PCL coating. It is concluded that the fabricated bioactive composite scaffolds represent promising candidates for bone tissue engineering applications.