Evaluation of in vitro degradation of PCL scaffolds fabricated via BioExtrusion – Part 2: Influence of pore size and geometry

The in vivo degradation processes by which scaffolds degrade and are replaced by neo-tissue are complex and may be influenced by many factors, including environmental conditions, material properties, porosity and 3D architecture. The present study is focused on the influence of design parameters, filament distance (FD) and lay-down pattern, on the degradation kinetics of Polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds obtained via BioExtrusion. Through the variation of design parameters it was possible to obtain two groups of scaffolds with distinct pore geometry and size. The in vitro degradation was performed in simulated body fluid (SBF) and in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) for six months. Our results highlight a more complex degradation pattern of the scaffolds in SBF than in PBS, probably related to a mineral deposition. Significant statistical differences in weight loss values at month 6, allowed us to conclude that degradation kinetics of PCL scaffolds is strongly influenced by the pore size.