3D Biocompatible Polyester Blend Scaffolds Containing Degradable Calcium Citrate for Bone Tissue Engineering

In this study, a novel porous 3D composite scaffold based on the biodegradable Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), Polylactide Acid (PLA) and Calcium Citrate (CC) was developed via polymer blends and thermal-induced phase separation. The chemical structure, crystalline structure and micromorphology as well as mechanical strength of the scaffolds were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and tensile tests. The results show that the obtained composite scaffold present a suitable bone-like porous structure and sufficient mechanical strength. Furthermore, the release of calcium ions in Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) indicates that the composite material can provide a stable calcium-ion environment and maintain a constant pH value during the soaking process. The cell proliferation results from CCK-8 and light microscopy show that MG63 cells exhibit excellent adhesion and proliferation on the stent. At the same time, animal implantation histology confirms that the composite scaffolds have good biocompatibility in vivo. The scaffold material has greatly potential application value in the field of bone tissue engineering.