Tailoring the biodegradability and bioactivity of green-electrospun polycaprolactone fibers by incorporation of bioactive glass nanoparticles for guided bone regeneration

Abstract

• PCL membranes were produced with varying bioactive glass nanoparticles (BGn) amount. • BGn dispersion was achieved, leading to enhanced fibers’ uniformity, alignment, and wettability. • Biodegradation test demonstrated that the degradation rate was tailored as a function of BGn amount. • Bioactivity test showed that samples with 10 and 15 %wt of BGn exhibited induced HAp deposition. Fibrous membranes comprising of polycaprolactone (PCL) and bioactive glass nanoparticles (BGn), at different amounts, were prepared by the green electrospinning method for potential use in guided bone regeneration (GBR). The characteristics of the membranes were assessed first by FTIR, SEM, TGA, and DSC. Wettability was studied by measurements of the static water contact angle. In vitro biodegradability and bioactivity were evaluated through immersion in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and simulated body fluid (SBF) solutions, respectively. TGA, FTIR, and SEM analysis showed that the BGn were homogeneously dispersed in the PCL matrix. Furthermore, BGn's introduction enhanced the uniformity and alignment of fibers and helped reduce the hydrophobicity of PCL. DSC analysis indicated that an increase in PCL’s crystallinity was induced due to the nucleation effect of BGn. In addition, in vitro studies demonstrated that biodegradability and bioactivity could be tailored as a function of the BGn content. Indeed, excellent biomineralization was obtained at higher BGn concentrations (10 and 15 %wt) with a matching biodegradation rate. These results suggest that the electrospun composite mats could be used as barrier membranes in GBR.