Crosslinked poly(ϵ‐caprolactone/ D , L ‐lactide)/bioactive glass composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

A series of elastic polymer and composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications were designed. Two crosslinked copolymer matrices with 90/10 and 30/70 mol % of ϵ‐caprolactone (CL) and D , L ‐lactide (DLLA) were prepared with porosities from 45 to 85 vol % and their mechanical and degradation properties were tested. Corresponding composite scaffolds with 20–50 wt % of particulate bioactive glass (BAG) were also characterized. Compressive modulus of polymer scaffolds ranged from 190 ± 10 to 900 ± 90 kPa. Lactide rich scaffolds absorbed up to 290 wt % of water in 4 weeks and mainly lost their mechanical properties. Caprolactone rich scaffolds absorbed no more than 110 wt % of water in 12 weeks and kept their mechanical integrity. Polymer and composite scaffolds prepared with P(CL/DLLA 90/10) matrix and 60 vol % porosity were further analyzed in simulated body fluid and in osteoblast culture. Cell growth was compromised inside the 2 mm thick three‐dimensional scaffold specimens as a static culture model was used. However, composite scaffolds with BAG showed increased osteoblast adhesion and mineralization when compared to neat polymer scaffolds. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2006