Preparation and characterization of bioactive composite scaffolds from polycaprolactone nanofibers-chitosan-oxidized starch for bone regeneration

• Oxidized starch prepared by periodate oxidation was blended with chitosan through the reductive alkylation process.
• The PCl nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning using solvent mixture formic acid/acetic acid.
• The calcium phosphate (CaP) was deposited throughout the electrospun PCl mat using alternate soaking process.
• The composite scaffolds from CaP-coated PCl nanofibers-chitosan-oxidized starch were prepared via freeze-drying.
• Adhesion and viability of osteoblast-like cells (MG 63) were investigated on the scaffolds.

The objective of this study was to fabricate and investigate the characteristics of a suitable scaffold for bone regeneration. Therefore, chitosan was combined with various amounts of oxidized starch through reductive alkylation process. Afterwards, chopped CaP-coated PCL nanofibers were added into the chitosan-starch composite scaffolds in order to obtain bioactivity and mimic bone extracellular matrix structure. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that all scaffolds had well-interconnected porous structure. The mean pore size, porosity, and water uptake of the composite scaffolds increased by incorporation of higher amounts of starch, while this trend was opposite for compressive modulus and strength. Osteoblast-like cells (MG63) culturing on the scaffolds demonstrated that higher starch content could improve cell viability. Moreover, the cells spread and anchored well on the scaffolds, on which the surface was covered with a monolayer of cells.