Improved mechanical properties of hydroxyapatite/poly(ɛ-caprolactone) scaffolds by surface modification of hydroxyapatite

Scaffolds comprising hydroxyapatite (HAP) or poly(ɛ-caprolactone)-grafted hydroxyapatite (g-HAP) and poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) were prepared using the thermally induced phase separation/salt leaching technique. The g-HAP nanoparticles were evaluated by Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Power X-ray Diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed the successful grafting on the surface of HAP. The effects on mechanical strength, porosity and thermal property of scaffolds by the introduction of nanoparticles were extensively investigated. The compressive modulus of the scaffold was greatly improved by the addition of g-HAP nanoparticles. Especially the compressive modulus of the g-HAP/PCL scaffold containing 20 wt% of g-HAP was 59.4% higher than that of the corresponding HAP/PCL scaffold.