Degradation Of Polycaprolactone Research Articles

Fabrication of Polycaprolactone-Based Polyurethanes with Enhanced Thermal Stability.

The benefit of being acquainted with thermal properties, especially the thermal stability of polyurethanes (PU), and simplified methods for their improvement is manifold. Considering this, the effect of embedding different amounts of unmodified and surface-modified TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) within PU, based on polycaprolactone (PCL) and Boltorn® aliphatic hyperbranched polyester, on PU properties was investigated. Results obtained via scanning electron microscopy, swelling measurements, mechanical tests and thermogravimetric analysis revealed that TiO2 NPs can be primarily applied to improve the thermal performance of PU. Through surface modification of TiO2 NPs with an amphiphilic gallic acid ester containing a C12 long alkyl chain (lauryl gallate), the impact on thermal stability of PU was greater due to the better dispersion of modified TiO2 NPs in the PU matrix compared to the unmodified ones. Also, the distinct shape of DTG peaks of the composite prepared using modified TiO2 NPs indicates that applied nano-filler is mostly embedded in soft segments of PU, leading to the delay in thermal degradation of PCL, simultaneously improving the overall thermal stability of PU. In order to further explore the thermal degradation process of the prepared composites and prove the dominant role of incorporated TiO2 NPs in the course of thermal stability of PU, various iso-conversional model-free methods were applied. The evaluated apparent activation energy of the thermal degradation reaction at different conversions clearly confirmed the positive impact of TiO2 NPs on the thermal stability and aging resistance of PU.

Degradable polycaprolactone/buffer composites as pH regulating carrier materials for drug delivery and 3D printed biomaterials

Polymeric materials such as biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) have garnered significant attention for their utility in biomedical applications. With its notable low glass transition temperature (Tg), PCL exhibits flexibility at physiological temperatures, rendering it an ideal candidate for drug delivery systems, particularly in fibrous form. This suitability is particularly pronounced when these fibres are designed for placement within periodontal pockets resulting from periodontitis. However, the degradation of PCL yields acidic by-products, potentially impacting adjacent dental structures. To address this, several composites comprising PCL and buffering agents (CaCO3, MgCO3, NaHCO3, Na2HPO4, and TRIS) were processed to scaffolds using fused deposition modelling. For fine mineral powders (MgCO3, Na2HPO4) resulted in an extrudability of up to 20 wt% added to the PCL, whereas otherwise 30 wt% added buffer could be processed without any problems. The primary objective of these composites is to modulate the pH within the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) to prevent demineralization of teeth.It was found, that only MgCO3 added to PCL can keep pH above 7.4 during enzymatic degradation over 28 days. This ensured that the polymer matrix was 100% degraded without lowering the pH value, which might prevent deminarlization of dental hard tissues for it future intended application. This influence can be directly attributed to the solubility of MgCO3, as all other buffer substances are rinsed out of the PCL matrix too quickly (max. 9 days).

Preparation and Characterization of Poliglecaprone-Incorporated Polycaprolactone Composite Fibrous Scaffolds

Electrospun fibrous scaffolds made from polymers such as polycaprolactone (PCL) have been used in drug delivery and tissue engineering for their viscoelasticity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and tunability. Hydrophobicity and the prolonged degradation of PCL causes inhibition of the natural tissue-remodeling processes. Poliglecaprone (PGC), which consists of PCL and Poly (glycolic acid) (PGA), has better mechanical properties and a shorter degradation time compared to PCL. A blend between PCL and PGC called PPG can give enhanced shared properties for biomedical applications. In this study, we fabricated a blend of PCL and PGC nanofibrous scaffold (PPG) at different ratios of PGC utilizing electrospinning. We studied the physicochemical and biological properties, such as morphology, crystallinity, surface wettability, degradation, surface functionalization, and cellular compatibility. All PPG scaffolds exhibited good uniformity in fiber morphology and improved mechanical properties. The surface wettability and degradation studies confirmed that increasing PGC in the PPG composites increased hydrophilicity and scaffold degradation respectively. Cell viability and cytotoxicity results showed that the scaffold with PGC was more viable and less toxic than the PCL-only scaffolds. PPG fibers were successfully coated with polydopamine (PDA) and collagen to improve degradation, biocompatibility, and bioactivity. The nanofibrous scaffolds synthesized in this study can be utilized for tissue engineering applications such as for regeneration of human articular cartilage regeneration and soft bones.

Development and Characterization of Electrospun Composites Built on Polycaprolactone and Cerium-Containing Phases.

The current study reports on the fabrication of composite scaffolds based on polycaprolactone (PCL) and cerium (Ce)-containing powders, followed by their characterization from compositional, structural, morphological, optical and biological points of view. First, CeO2, Ce-doped calcium phosphates and Ce-substituted bioglass were synthesized by wet-chemistry methods (precipitation/coprecipitation and sol-gel) and subsequently loaded on PCL fibres processed by electrospinning. The powders were proven to be nanometric or micrometric, while the investigation of their phase composition showed that Ce was present as a dopant within the crystal lattice of the obtained calcium phosphates or as crystalline domains inside the glassy matrix. The best bioactivity was attained in the case of Ce-containing bioglass, while the most pronounced antibacterial effect was visible for Ce-doped calcium phosphates calcined at a lower temperature. The scaffolds were composed of either dimensionally homogeneous fibres or mixtures of fibres with a wide size distribution and beads of different shapes. In most cases, the increase in polymer concentration in the precursor solution ensured the achievement of more ordered fibre mats. The immersion in SBF for 28 days triggered an incipient degradation of PCL, evidenced mostly through cracks and gaps. In terms of biological properties, the composite scaffolds displayed a very good biocompatibility when tested with human osteoblast cells, with a superior response for the samples consisting of the polymer and Ce-doped calcium phosphates.

Effects of polycaprolactone degradation products on the water flea, Daphnia magna: Carbodiimide additives have acute and chronic toxicity.

Plastics have benefited our lives in many ways, but their long persistence in the environment causes serious problems. Rapid decomposition and detoxification of plastics after use are significant challenges. As a possible solution, biodegradable plastics have attracted attention, and for environmental risk assessment research on polymer toxicity, use of indicator organisms, like water fleas and fish, has increased globally. However, such research often focuses on standardized substances without considering changes in toxicity due to plastic degradation products. Additionally, tests generally focus on acute toxicity, while long-term effects on organismal reproduction and lifespan are largely unknown. Understanding the impact of degraded polymers on biological activities is crucial for accurate risk assessment. In this study, we investigated the biological toxicity of substances generated during degradation of polycaprolactone (PCL), a common biodegradable plastic, using the indicator organism, Daphnia magna. We examined PCL, oligocaprolactones (OCLs), and monomers resulting from polymer cleavage, as well as carbodiimides, added during polyester synthesis. As a result, PCL, which is insoluble in water, reduced individual survival and total number of offspring at an exposure concentration of 100 mg/L, while no toxicity was observed for water-soluble degradation products, OCLs, and monomers. Furthermore, carbodiimides, which are expected to be released during PCL degradation, showed strong toxicity, significantly reducing individual survival and total number of offspring at 0.1-10mg/L. These findings suggest that changes in physical properties due to polymer degradation and release of additives can significantly alter their toxicity.

Tuning polycaprolactone degradation for long acting implantables

Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a bioresorbable polyester that has been widely used in biomedical applications since the 1970s. Because PCL undergoes bulk degradation, it is especially amenable to drug delivery applications. To ensure safety, a drug eluting implant must typically remain intact until the drug is exhausted, and following exhaustion the implant should breakdown and be resorbed. Many PCL based implants target delivery on the order of six months to one year, yet the time to degradation of PCLs is often on the order of multiple years. It is known that the time to degradation of PCL is directly related to its initial molecular weight; however, the limited integrity of neat low molecular weight PCLs make them unsuitable for implantation. Here we outline an approach to tune the time to degradation of PCL by blending low and high molecular weight polymers. We show that the degradation rate and permeability of PCL films are insensitive to their composition, and weight-average molecular weight (Mw) is predictive of time to fragmentation. Additionally, we demonstrate that compositions with up to 50 wt % low molecular weight polymer can retain the mechanical properties of a high molecular weight material. The resulting material has a lower effective Mw and a shorter time to degradation. In accelerated testing, it is possible to reduce time to degradation by roughly two-fold without sacrificing mechanical integrity. This provides versatility in adapting device designs to meet the needs of a specific application. These findings have implications in the development of biodegradable drug eluting implants, tissue engineering scaffolds, and resorbable surgical materials.

Preparation and evaluation of a silk fibroin-polycaprolactone biodegradable biomimetic tracheal scaffold.

In tracheal tissue engineering, the construction of tracheal scaffolds with adequate biodegradable mechanical capacity and biological functions that mimic the structure of a natural trachea is challenging. To explore the feasibility of preparing biomimetic degradable scaffolds with C-type cartilage rings and an inner tracheal wall of polycaprolactone and silk fibroin. A mold was made according to the diameter of a rabbit trachea, and a silk fibroin tube and polycaprolactone ring attached to the tube were obtained by solution casting. The ring was fixed to the tube at a specific spacing using electrostatic spinning technology to construct a biomimetic tracheal scaffold; its porous structure was observed by scanning electron microscopy, its degradation properties were determined by in vitro enzymatic hydrolysis and its mechanical properties were obtained by pressure testing. The composite scaffold was transplanted subcutaneously into a rabbit model, and the scaffold was taken at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after surgery for sectioning to observe pre-vascularization. The Medical Ethics Committee of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital approved the study. The general view of the biomimetic scaffold: the polycaprolactone ring was fixed firmly on the outer wall of the silk fibroin tube; the two corresponded in size, and they fitted closely. The surface of the polycaprolactone ring was smooth and dense, while the surface of the silk fibroin tube could be seen as a uniform porous structure. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the surface and profile of the fibroin tube had a uniform pore size and distribution. The pores were connected to form a network. In vitro, enzymatic hydrolysis experiments confirmed that the fibroin was degraded easily, with most being degraded at the end of week 1. The degradation slowed at 2, 3, and 4 weeks, while the degradation of polycaprolactone was extremely slow. A compression test showed that the compressive resistance of the silk fibroin-polycaprolactone biomimetic scaffolds was much better than that of the rabbit trachea at close thickness. In the tissue staining experiments, as the material degraded, fibrous tissues and blood vessels grew to replace the material, allowing the scaffold to obtain a blood supply and better mechanical properties. A quantitative analysis of CD31 showed that the results for the vascularization of the scaffold were better at 4 weeks than at 2 weeks following subcutaneous grafting (P < .05). The results confirmed that it is feasible to prepare porous, degradable silk fibroin-polycaprolactone biomimetic scaffolds with good mechanical properties and epithelial biological functions by mold casting.

Morphology, Properties and Application of Iron Oxide/Polycaprolactone Nanocomposites

Polycaprolactone (PCL) and Fe2O3/PCL nanocomposites sheets/films were prepared by solution casting method. The morphological study illustrated that Fe2O3 nanoparticles were dispersed and embedded well within the PCL matrix. The size of Fe2O3 nanoparticles were below 250 nm. The thermal stability of Fe2O3/PCL nanocomposites was lower than neat PCL, which might be due to Fe2O3 (act as catalyst during the thermal degradation of PCL). The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses show that the crystallization temperature of the nanocomposites was slightly enhanced as compared to neat PCL. The polarized optical microscopy (POM) analyses showed that the size of Fe2O3/PCL nanocomposites spherulites were smaller than neat PCL. The photodegradation study presented that the nanocomposites photodegraded higher quantity of rhodamine B dye as compared to neat PCL. The neat PCL degraded about 24 and 72% while Fe2O3 (6 wt%)/PCL nanocomposites degraded about 72 and 98% of dye within 2 and 10 h, respectively.

Morphology, Properties and Application of Iron Oxide/Polycaprolactone Nanocomposites

Polycaprolactone (PCL) and Fe2O3/PCL nanocomposites sheets/films were prepared by solution casting method. The morphological study illustrated that Fe2O3 nanoparticles were dispersed and embedded well within the PCL matrix. The size of Fe2O3 nanoparticles were below 250 nm. The thermal stability of Fe2O3/PCL nanocomposites was lower than neat PCL, which might be due to Fe2O3 (act as catalyst during the thermal degradation of PCL). The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses show that the crystallization temperature of the nanocomposites was slightly enhanced as compared to neat PCL. The polarized optical microscopy (POM) analyses showed that the size of Fe2O3/PCL nanocomposites spherulites were smaller than neat PCL. The photodegradation study presented that the nanocomposites photodegraded higher quantity of rhodamine B dye as compared to neat PCL. The neat PCL degraded about 24 and 72% while Fe2O3 (6 wt%)/PCL nanocomposites degraded about 72 and 98% of dye within 2 and 10 h, respectively.

Morphology, Properties and Application of Iron Oxide/Polycaprolactone Nanocomposites

Polycaprolactone (PCL) and Fe2O3/PCL nanocomposites sheets/films were prepared by solution casting method. The morphological study illustrated that Fe2O3 nanoparticles were dispersed and embedded well within the PCL matrix. The size of Fe2O3 nanoparticles were below 250 nm. The thermal stability of Fe2O3/PCL nanocomposites was lower than neat PCL, which might be due to Fe2O3 (act as catalyst during the thermal degradation of PCL). The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses show that the crystallization temperature of the nanocomposites was slightly enhanced as compared to neat PCL. The polarized optical microscopy (POM) analyses showed that the size of Fe2O3/PCL nanocomposites spherulites were smaller than neat PCL. The photodegradation study presented that the nanocomposites photodegraded higher quantity of rhodamine B dye as compared to neat PCL. The neat PCL degraded about 24 and 72% while Fe2O3 (6 wt%)/PCL nanocomposites degraded about 72 and 98% of dye within 2 and 10 h, respectively.

Gel Permeative Chromatography (GPC) Analysis of Polycaprolactone (PCL) Based Biodegradable Composites through Laboratory Soil Test

Biodegradability is an important asset for a polymer for their acceptance by the society due to the increased environmental awareness people over the years. In this study, Polycaprolactone (PCL) based biocomposites were produced using PCL, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/Starch mixture and polyethylene (PE) as a polymeric matrix and Turkish Red Pine Pruning waste flours (RPWF) a lignocellulosic filler. Biocomposites were manufactured through combination of extruder and injection molding processes. Forest soil was collected from arid regions of Konya and transferred to Laboratory. During 18 Months of soil test, degradation of PCL was monitored using Gel Permeative Chromatography (GPC) . Results showed major factor on GPC results were RPWF and degradation time. Especially at higher level of lignocellulosic filler use, there is a linear relation between filler and degradation time.

Effects of the electrosprayed polycaprolactone microparticles morphology on the polycaprolactone degradation

The polycaprolactone (PCL) microparticles fabricated by electrospray technique have been studied and applied in drug and protein delivery system. The degradation of PCL and the release of drug/protein from the polymeric microparticles (MPs) were desired to happen simultaneously. When the new dosage was administrated, the PCL MPs were degraded and eliminated out of the body. This research indicated that the degradation of PCL was influenced by the various morphology of electrosprayed microparticles. The different sizes of 11.8 μm and 5.17 μm and the various shapes of the PCL MPs such as hollow, porous and wrinkle particles and spheres were investigated the PCL degradation in the PBS solution, at pH 7.4. The morphology of PCL MPs was designed by controlling the polymer solution and the electrosprayed processing parameters such as the flow rate and collecting distance. Scanning electron microscopy and gel permeation chromatography were order to determine the change of the morphology and number molecule weight (Mn) of PCL MPs. The porous, distorted and smaller particles reduced the Mn faster than the microspheres because of the larger surface area of MPs contacted with PBS solution. After 77 days, PCL MPs which were fabricated by the processing parameter, including 2.5% PCL in DCM, flow rate of 0.8 mL/h, voltage of 18 kV, collecting distance of 25 cm, reduced 49.96% molecular weight (decreasing from Mn= 80,438 g/mol to 40,225 g/mol).&#x0D;

Thiol-ene polymerization for hierarchically porous hybrid materials by adding degradable polycaprolactone for adsorption of bisphenol A.

Hierarchically porous materials with multiple pore structures have the potential application in catalysis, separation or bioengineering. A concept was introduced to design and fabricate hierarchically porous hybrid materials (HPHMs) simultaneously containing mesopores and macropores. The proof-of-concept design was demonstrated by fabrication of several kinds of hybrid materials by adding degradable polycaprolactone (PCL) additive, which was simple and easy-operating. The specific surface areas of HPHMs prepared with polyhedral oligomeric vinylsilsesquioxanes (vinylPOSS) and 1,4-dithiothreitol (DTT) could reach 727 m2/g by adding 25% PCL additive, while the HPHMs were imperforate prior to degradation of PCL. The characterization further indicated that the macropores could be controlled by the amount of PCL additive. Moreover, the porous properties of HPHMs were influenced by the molecular weight of PCL. Other dithiols compounds were also successful in preparing HPHMs with high specific surface areas over 400 m2/g. Due to hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bond interaction, the HPHM exhibited good adsorption ability for bisphenol A (BPA) in aqueous solution. Adsorption equilibrium could be achieved within 30 min, and the adsorption capacity was up to 157.4 mg/g. Meanwhile, the removal efficiency was found to be 95.37% for BPA.

Facile Preparation of Titanium(IV)-Immobilized Hierarchically Porous Hybrid Monoliths.

Hierarchically porous materials have become a key feature of biological materials and have been widely applied for adsorption or catalysis. Herein, we presented a new approach to directly prepare a phosphate-functionalized hierarchically porous hybrid monolith (HPHM), which simultaneously contained mesopores and macropores. The design was based on the copolymerization of polyhedral oligomeric vinylsilsesquioxanes (vinylPOSS) and vinylphosphonic acid (VPA) by adding degradable polycaprolactone (PCL) additive. The phosphate groups could be directly introduced into the hybrid monoliths. This approach was simple and time-saving, and overcame the defect of a rigorous, complex process for preparing traditional Ti4+-immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) materials. The specific surface area of an optimal hybrid monolith could reach 502 m2/g obtained by nitrogen adsorption/desorption measurements, which originated from the degradation of PCL. Meanwhile, the characterization of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) also suggested that the macropores existed in the hybrid monoliths. The size of macropores could be controlled by the content of PCL in the polymerization mixture. The prepared Ti4+-IMAC HPHMs exhibited high adsorption capacity (63.6 mg/g for pyridocal 5'-phosphatemonohydrate), and excellent enrichment specificity (tryptic digest of β-casein/BSA at a molar ratio of 1:1000) and sensitivity (tryptic digest of 5 fmol of β-casein). Moreover, the Ti4+-IMAC HPHMs provided effective enrichment ability of low-abundance phosphopeptides from human serum and HeLa cell digests.

Effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles on the in vitro degradation of electrospun polycaprolactone membranes in simulated body fluid

ABSTRACTEven though the biodegradability of polycaprolactone (PCL) is well established, few studies have carried out on the effect of nanofillers on the in vitro degradability of electrospun PCL membranes. Thus, the authors incorporated common nanofiller zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles in electrospun PCL membranes. From the study of morphological schanges as well as the changes in crystallinity, it is clear that the ZnO nanoparticles accelerated the degradation of PCL. The FTIR results ascertain that the hydrolysis of the PCL nanofibers generates free hydroxyl and carbonyl groups in the bulk of the polymer. The tensile property of the PCL/ZnO nanocomposite membranes decreased with an increase in filler loading during degradation.

In vitro study of polycaprolactone/bioactive glass composite coatings on corrosion and bioactivity of pure Mg

The influence of the addition of nano-scaled bioactive glass (nBG) powder into polycaprolactone (PCL) coatings on the biodegradation and bioactivity of pure Mg was investigated in the present work. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and electrochemical methods were employed to characterize the morphology, chemical composition and anticorrosion properties of the coatings. The results indicate that nBG addition in PCL increases the degradation of PCL in physiological solution; depending on the amount of nBG in the composite coating, the barrier properties of PCL therefore can be modified. At the same time, the addition of nBG facilitates the formation of hydroxyapatite during 7 days immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF).

Enzymatic degradation of polycaprolactone–gelatin blend

Blends of polycaprolactone (PCL), a synthetic polymer and gelatin, natural polymer offer a optimal combination of strength, water wettability and cytocompatibility for use as a resorbable biomaterial. The enzymatic degradation of PCL, gelatin and PCL–gelatin blended films was studied in the presence of lipase (Novozym 435, immobilized) and lysozyme. Novozym 435 degraded the PCL films whereas lysozyme degraded the gelatin. Though Novozym 435 and lysozyme individually could degrade PCL–gelatin blended films, the combination of these enzymes showed the highest degradation of these blended films. Moreover, the enzymatic degradation was much faster when fresh enzymes were added at regular intervals. The changes in physico-chemical properties of polymer films due to degradation were studied by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. These results have important implications for designing resorbable biomedical implants.

Lovastatin release from polycaprolactone coated β-tricalcium phosphate: Effects of pH, concentration and drug–polymer interactions

The approach of local drug delivery from polymeric coating is currently getting significant attention for both soft and hard tissue engineering applications for sustained and controlled release. The chemistry of the polymer and the drug, and their interactions influence the release kinetics to a great extent. Here, we examine lovastatin release behaviour from polycaprolactone (PCL) coating on β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). Lovastatin was incorporated into biodegradable water insoluble PCL coating. A burst and uncontrolled lovastatin release was observed from bare β-TCP, whereas controlled and sustained release was observed from PCL coating. A higher lovastatin release was observed pH7.4 as compared to pH5.0. Effect of PCL concentration on lovastatin release was opposite at pH7.4 and 5.0. At pH5.0 lovastatin release was decreased with increasing PCL concentration, whereas release was increased with increasing PCL concentration at pH7.4. High Ca2+ ion concentration due to high solubility of β-TCP and degradation of PCL coating were observed at pH5.0 compared to no detectable Ca2+ ion release and visible degradation of PCL coating at pH7.4. The hydrophilic–hydrophobic and hydrophobic–hydrophobic interactions between lovastatin and PCL were found to be the key factors controlling the diffusion dominated release kinetics of lovastatin from PCL coating over dissolution and degradation processes. Understanding the lovastatin release chemistry from PCL will be beneficial for designing drug delivery devices from polymeric coating or scaffolds.

Cutinolytic esterase activity of bacteria isolated from mixed-plant compost and characterization of a cutinase gene fromPseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes

The objective of the current study was to examine cutinolytic esterase (i.e., cutinase) activity by pseudomonads and bacteria isolated from mixed-plant compost. Approximately 400 isolates representing 52 taxa recovered from mixed-plant compost using cuticle baits, along with 117 pseudomonad isolates obtained from a culture collection (i.e., non-compost habitats), were evaluated. The ability of isolates to degrade the synthetic cutin polycaprolactone (PCL) was initially measured. Isolates from 23 taxa recovered from the compost degraded PCL. As well, isolates from 13 taxa of pseudomonads cleared PCL. Secondary screening measured esterase activity induced by the presence of apple cuticle using the chromogenic substrate p-nitrophenyl butyrate. Eighteen isolates representing four taxa (Alcaligenes faecalis , Bacillus licheniformis , Bacillus pumilus , and Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes) recovered from compost exhibited substantial esterase activity when grown with cuticle. In contrast, none of the pseudomonad isolates from the culture collection produced appreciable esterase activity. Although degradation of PCL was not correlated with esterase activity, isolates that were unable to degrade PCL failed to produce measureable esterase activities. Zymogram analysis indicated that the esterases produced by bacteria from compost ranged in size from 29 to 47 kDa. A gene from P. pseudoalcaligenes (cutA) was found to code for a cutin-induced esterase consisting of 302 amino acids and a theoretical protein size of 32 kDa. The enzyme was unique and was most closely related to other bacterial lipases (≤48% similarity).

Evaluation of the Degradation Properties of Carbonate Substituted Hydroxyapatite-Poly(&lt;i&gt;ε&lt;/i&gt;-caprolactone) Composites

The aim of this work is to produce and characterise carbonate substituted hydroxyapatite (CHA) reinforced polycaprolactone (PCL) nanocomposites with a controlled degradation rate in order to match the rate of bone in-growth. The ideal degradation time for this purpose is estimated to be around 5-6 months however, in vivo, PCL degrades over a period of 2 to 3 years. It has been reported that NaOH surface treatment can accelerate the degradation of PCL [1-3]. In order to further modify the degradation rate of PCL, the effects of the incorporation of different volume fractions of CHA in samples surface treated with NaOH was investigated. CHA was produced by wet chemical synthesis. Samples comprising 8, 19, 25 wt% uncalcined CHA-PCL composites were produced by twin screw extrusion which were then injection moulded into cylinders. In order to accelerate the degradation rate of PCL, it was surface treated with 5 M NaOH for 3 days prior to PBS studies. The degradation profile was examined by % weight loss and % water uptake measurements. NaOH treatment was observed to erode the polymer surface and the polymer-filler interface. On subsequently degrading the pre-treated samples in PBS, it was observed that with increasing fraction of CHA, the degradation rate in PBS of the sample increased. Up to 8 wt % CHA filler there appeared to be little change in the degradation properties of the NaOH treated samples with the onset occurring after 60 days. However there was a marked acceleration of degradation for samples containing 19 wt% when degradation appeared to occur immediately. In conclusion, the addition of CHA significantly affects the behaviour of PCL.