Three Component Composite Scaffolds Based on PCL, Hydroxyapatite, and L-Lysine Obtained in TIPS-SL: Bioactive Material for Bone Tissue Engineering
Aleksandra Korbut, Marcin Włodarczyk, Karolina Rudnicka, Aleksandra Szwed, Przemysław Płociński, Monika Biernat, Paulina Tymowicz‐Grzyb, Martyna Michalska, Natalia Karska, Sylwia Rodziewicz‐Motowidło, Konrad Szustakiewicz
Abstract
In this research, we describe the properties of three-component composite foam scaffolds based on poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) as a matrix and hydroxyapatite whiskers (HAP) and L-Lysine as fillers (PCL/HAP/Lys with wt% ratio 50/48/2). The scaffolds were prepared using a thermally induced phase separation technique supported by salt leaching (TIPS-SL). All materials were precisely characterized: porosity, density, water uptake, wettability, DSC, and TGA measurements and compression tests were carried out. The microstructure of the obtained scaffolds was analyzed via SEM. It was found that the PCL/HAP/Lys scaffold has a 45% higher Young's modulus and better wettability compared to the PCL/HAP system. At the same time, the porosity of the system was ~90%. The osteoblast hFOB 1.19 cell response was also investigated in osteogenic conditions (39 °C) and the cytokine release profile of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α was determined. Modification of PCL scaffolds with HAP and L-Lysine significantly improved the proliferation of pre-osteoblasts cultured on such materials.