Influence of mechanochemically fabricated nano-hardystonite reinforcement in polycaprolactone scaffold for potential use in bone tissue engineering: Synthesis and characterization

Bone tissue engineering (BTE) has gained significant attention for the regeneration of bone tissue, particularly for critical-size bone defects. The aim of this research was first to synthesize nanopowders of hardystonite (HT) through ball milling and then to manufacture composite scaffolds for BTE use out of polycaprolactone (PCL) containing 0, 3, 5, and 10 wt% HT by electrospinning method. The crystallite size of the synthesized HT nanopowders was 42.8 nm. including up to 5 wt% HT into PCL scaffolds resulted in significant improvements, such as a reduction in the fiber diameter from 186.457 & PLUSMN;15.74 to 150.021 & PLUSMN;21.99 nm, a decrease in porosity volume from 85.2 & PLUSMN;2.5 to 80.3 & PLUSMN;3.3 %, an improvement in the mechanical properties (ultimate tensile strength: 5.7 & PLUSMN;0.2 MPa, elongation: 47.5 & PLUSMN;3.5 %, tensile modulus: 32.7 & PLUSMN;0.9 MPa), an improvement in the hydrophilicity, and biodegradability. Notably, PCL/5%HT exhibited the maximum cell viability (194 & PLUSMN;14 %). Additionally, following a 4-week of submersion in simulated body fluid (SBF), the constructed PCL/HT composite scaffolds showed a remarkable capacity to stimulate the development of hydroxyapatite (HA), which increased signifi-cantly for the 5 wt% HT scaffolds. However, at 10 wt% HT, nanopowder agglomeration led to an increase in the fiber diameter and a decrease in the mechanical characteristics. Collectively, the PCL/5%HT composite scaffolds can therefore help with the regeneration of the critical-size bone defects and offer tremendous potential for BTE applications.