Evaluating the Potential of Polycaprolactone/Heparinized Nano Fluoro Hydroxyapatite Composite Scaffolds for Advancing Bone Tissue Engineering: A Comprehensive Analysis of Biodegradability and Water Absorption

The primary purpose of this study is to produce a composite scaffold using polycaprolactone (PCL) and heparinized nano-fluorohydroxyapatite for cancellous bone tissue engineering. The research investigated the impact of heparinized nano-fluorohydroxyapatite particles on various properties of the scaffold, including water absorption, biodegradability, and alkaline phosphatase activity. The scaffold was produced using the phase separation (solid-liquid) method in combination with freeze-drying, and two different concentrations of heparinized nano-fluorohydroxyapatite powder were utilized. Biodegradability was assessed by submerging the scaffolds in phosphate-buffered saline for 6 weeks, showing that increased nano-fluorohydroxyapatite content enhanced biodegradability. PCL/10%w(H-nFHA50) exhibited the highest biodegradability rate. Water absorption analysis revealed that PCL scaffolds had lower water absorption compared to composite samples with heparinized nano-fluorohydroxyapatite, with PCL/10%(H-nFHA50) demonstrating the highest water absorption. Alkaline phosphatase activity was assessed on day 14 of cell culture, showing higher activity in heparinized samples compared to heparin-free samples in the presence of nano-fluorohydroxyapatite. The presence of heparin and nano-fluorohydroxyapatite in the scaffold structure likely contributed to this difference. No significant difference was observed between heparinized scaffolds with different nano-fluorohydroxyapatite concentrations. The results emphasize that the constructed scaffolds possess the potential for utilization in cancellous bone tissue engineering.