Quantitative analysis of the role of nanohydroxyapatite (nHA) on 3D-printed PCL/nHA composite scaffolds

Nanohydroxyapatite (nHA) is a widely accepted bone substitute material due to its biocompatibility and intrinsic osteoconductive properties. For various tissue-engineered applications including 3D-printing fabrication of bone substitutes, composite scaffolds combining calcium phosphate such as nHA with synthetic polymer such as polycaprolactone (PCL) have been extensively explored to enhance the mechanical and physiochemical properties. In this study, 3D-printed PCL/nHA scaffolds were developed using mechanical extrusion-based 3D bioprinter. Scaffold morphology, chemical composition, mechanical strength, cell proliferation, and mineralization were quantitatively analyzed at various concentrations of nHA (0, 10, 20 and 30 wt%). The experimental results suggest essential data to optimize mechanical properties, printability, cellular interactions, and osteoconductivity of 3D-printed PCL/nHA composite scaffolds.