Graded biomimetic osteochondral scaffold prepared via CO2 foaming and micronized NaCl leaching

This study reports for the first time the design and fabrication of an osteochondral biomimetic poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and nano-metric hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffold for tissue engineering via CO2 foaming and micronized NaCl particles leaching.The control of the NaCl concentration, in the range from 30 to 80 wt.%, and the foaming temperature, in the range from 25 to 40 °C, allowed for the design and fabrication of PCL foams with different combinations of morphology, porosity and mean pore size. Furthermore, by creating concentration gradients of NaCl micro-particles and HA nano-crystals, we fabricated a novel graded biomimetic PCL-HA scaffold with biochemical and biophysical properties suitable for osteochondral tissue engineering.

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► A graded porous scaffold was prepared via CO2 foaming and micronized NaCl leaching.
► The scaffold showed a spatial gradient of pore structure and HA nano-crystals.
► The scaffold may have potential application for osteochondral tissue engineering.