Simple surface modification of poly(ε-caprolactone) for apatite deposition from simulated body fluid

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with a bone-like apatite layer bound to its surface could be useful as a scaffold for tissue engineering applications. In the present study, the surface of PCL was treated with aqueous NaOH to introduce carboxylate groups onto the surface. The NaOH-treated material was subsequently dipped in aqueous CaCl2 and K2HPO4•3H2O alternately three times to deposit apatite nuclei on the surface. The surface-modified material successfully formed a dense and uniform bone-like surface apatite layer after incubation for 24 h in simulated body fluid with ion concentrations approximately equal to those of human blood plasma.