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Scaffold with controlled porosity constitute a cornerstone in tissue engineering, as a physical support for cell adhesion and growth. In this work, scaffolds of polycaprolactone were synthesized by a modified particle leaching method in order to control porosity and pore interconnectivity; the aim is to observe their influence on the mechanical properties and, in the future, on cell adhesion and proliferation rates. Low molecular weight PEMA beads with an average size of 200 microm were sintered with various compression rates in order to obtain the templates (negatives of the scaffolds). Then the melt polycaprolactone was injected into the porous template under nitrogen pressure in a custom made device. After cooling and solidifying of the melt polymer, the porogen was removed by selective dissolution in ethanol. The porosity and morphology of the scaffold were studied as well as the mechanical properties. Porosities from 60% to 85% were reached; it was found that pore interconnectivity logically increases with increasing porosity, and that mechanical strength decreases with increasing porosity. Because of their interesting properties and interconnected structure, these scaffolds are expected to find useful applications as a cartilage or bone repair material.

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The aim of this work is to compare the effect of hydroxyapatite (HAp) or bioglass (BG) nanoparticles in a polycaprolactone composite scaffold aimed to bone regeneration. To allow a comparison of the influence of both types of fillers, scaffolds made of PCL or composites containing up to 20 % by weight HAp or BG were obtained. Scaffolds showed acceptable mechanical properties for its use and high interconnected porosity apt for cellular colonization. To study the effect of the different materials on pre-osteoblast cells differentiation, samples with 5 % mineral reinforcement, were cultured for up to 28 days in osteogenic medium. Cells proliferated in all scaffolds. Nevertheless, differentiation levels for the selected markers were higher in pure PCL scaffolds than in the composites; inclusion of bioactive particles showed no positive effects on cell differentiation. In osteogenic culture conditions, the presence of bioactive particles is thus not necessary in order to observe good differentiation.

Polymer-ceramic composites obtained as the result of a mineralization process hold great promise for the future of tissue engineering. Simulated body fluids (SBFs) are widely used for the mineralization of polymer scaffolds. In this work an exhaustive study with the aim of optimizing the mineralization process on a poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) macroporous scaffold has been performed. We observed that when an air plasma treatment is applied to the PLLA scaffold its hydroxyapatite nucleation ability is considerably improved. However, plasma treatment only allows apatite deposition on the surface of the scaffold but not in its interior. When a 5 wt % of synthetic hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles is mixed with PLLA a more abundant biomimetic hydroxyapatite layer grows inside the scaffold in SBF. The morphology, amount, and composition of the generated biomimetic hydroxyapatite layer on the pores' surface have been analyzed. Large mineralization times are harmful to pure PLLA as it rapidly degrades and its elastic compression modulus significantly decreases. Degradation is retarded in the composite scaffolds because of the faster and extensive biomimetic apatite deposition and the role of HAp to control the pH. Mineralized scaffolds, covered by an apatite layer in SBF, were implanted in osteochondral lesions performed in the medial femoral condyle of healthy sheep. We observed that the presence of biomimetic hydroxyapatite on the pore's surface of the composite scaffold produces a better integration in the subchondral bone, in comparison to bare PLLA scaffolds.

Polymer-ceramic composites are favourite candidates when aiming to replace bone tissue. We present here scaffolds made of polycaprolactone-hydroxyapatite (PCL-HAp) composites, and investigate in vitro mineralisation of the scaffolds in SBF after or without a nucleation treatment. In vitro bioactivity is enhanced by HAp incorporation as well as by nucleation treatment, as demonstrated by simulated body fluid (SBF) mineralization. Surprisingly, we obtained a hybrid interconnected organic-inorganic structure, as a result of micropore invasion by biomimetic apatite, which results in a mechanical strengthening of the material after two weeks of immersion in SBF92. The presented scaffolds, due to their multiple qualities, are expected to be valuable supports for bone tissue engineering.

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