Tough Photo-Cross-Linked PCL-Hydroxyapatite Composites for Bone Tissue Engineering

Biomacromolecules. 2022 Mar 14;23(3):1366-1375. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.1c01584. Epub 2022 Feb 11.

Abstract

Acrylate-based photo-cross-linked poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) tends to show low elongation and strength. Incorporation of osteo-inductive hydroxyapatite (HAp) further enhances this effect, which limits its applicability in bone tissue engineering. To overcome this, the thiol-ene click reaction is introduced for the first time in order to photo-cross-link PCL composites with 0, 10, 20, and 30 wt % HAp nanoparticles. It is demonstrated that the elongation at break and ultimate strength increase 10- and 2-fold, respectively, when the photopolymerization mechanism is shifted from a radical chain-growth (i.e., acrylate cross-linking) toward a radical step-growth polymerization (i.e., thiol-ene cross-linking). Additionally, it is illustrated that osteoblasts can attach to and proliferate on the surface of the photo-cross-linked PCL-HAp composites. Finally, the incorporation of HAp nanoparticles is shown to reduce the ALP activity of osteoblasts. Overall, thiol-ene cross-linked PCL-HAp composites can be considered as promising potential materials for bone tissue engineering.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Durapatite*
  • Polyesters
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds
  • Tissue Engineering*
  • Tissue Scaffolds

Substances

  • Polyesters
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds
  • Durapatite