Influence of polymer content in Ca-deficient hydroxyapatite–polycaprolactone nanocomposites on the formation of microvessel-like structures

Calcium phosphate (CaP) ceramics are widely used in bone tissue engineering due to their good osteoconductivity. The mechanical properties of CaP can be modified by the addition of small volume fractions of biodegradable polymers such as polycaprolactone (PCL). Nevertheless, it is also important to evaluate how the polymer content influences cell–material or cell–cell interactions because of potential consequences for bone regeneration and vascularization. In this study we assessed the general biocompatibilty of Ca-deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA)–PCL disks containing nominally 11 and 24% polycaprolactone using human umbilical vein endothelial cells and human primary osteoblasts. Confocal microscopy showed that both CDHA–PCL variants supported the growth of both cell types. In terms of the endothelial cells grown on CDHA–PCL nanocomposites with 24% PCL, an increased expression of the endothelial marker vWF compared to CDHA–PCL with 11% PCL was observed in real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. In addition to monocultures, co-cultures of outgrowth endothelial cells, derived from peripheral blood, and primary osteoblasts were assessed as an example of a more complex test system for bone regeneration and vascularization. Constructs based on CDHA with different PCL contents were investigated with regard to the formation of microvessel-like structures induced by the co-culture process using confocal microscopy and quantitative image analysis. Furthermore, the osteogenic differentiation of the co-culture was assessed. As a result, more pre-vascular structures were observed after 1 week on the CDHA–PCL disks with 24% PCL, whereas after 4 weeks of culture the extent of microvessel-like structure formation was slightly higher on the CDHA with 11% PCL. In contrast to this, variation of PCL content had no effect on the osteogenic differentiation in the co-culture.