title: 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(epsilon-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 microm. The scaffold macropores were well interconnected, with a porosity of 72-73% and a pore size of 500 microm. 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.
authors.affiliation: Team of BK21, First Project Team, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Inje University, Gimhae, Gyeongnam 621-749, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Su-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: Seung-Eon
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Yong-Taek
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Hyun
authors.forename: Hui-Suk
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Dong-Hwa
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Jung-Woog
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D048430:Cell Shape; D019245:Compressive Strength; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D010316:Particle Size; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D017155:Wettability
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone; D017886:Durapatite