Evaluation of in vitro degradation of PCL scaffolds fabricated via BioExtrusion. Part 1: Influence of the degradation environment

One of the most promising approaches in tissue engineering (TE) comprises the development of 3D porous scaffolds which are able to promote tissue regeneration. Biocompatible and biodegradable poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL) structures are increasingly used as temporary extra-cellular matrices for bone tissue engineering. To ensure an appropriate bone restoration over the long term, the selected material must have a degradation rate that match the in-growth of new bone. The in vivo process, by which the scaffold degrades and is resorbed transferring the load and function back to the host tissue, is complex. Consequently, an appropriate preliminary in vitro study is required. A novel extrusion-based technology called BioExtruder was used to produce PCL porous scaffolds made with layers of directionally aligned microfilaments. The in vitro degradation behaviour in both simulated body fluid (SBF) and phosphate buffer solution (PBS) were investigated over 6 months. The characterization of the degradation behaviour of the structures was performed at specific times by evaluating changes in the average molecular weight, the weight loss and its thermal properties. Morphological and surface chemical analyses were also performed using a Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), respectively.