Preparation and Mechanical Properties of Polycaprolactone Enhancement β-tricalcium Phosphate Composite Scaffold

To address the insufficient toughness of bioceramics in the repair and reconstruction of large bone defects, a bioceramic β-tricalcium phosphate/polycaprolactone composite scaffold with high strength and toughness is fabricated using digital light processing technology and coating techniques. The effects of the concentration of polycaprolactone coating on the compressive and flexural properties and microstructure of the composite scaffold are studied. The results show that polycaprolactone coating effectively improves the mechanical properties of the β-tricalcium phosphate ceramic scaffold. Both the strength and toughness of the composite scaffold are positively correlated with the concentration of polycaprolactone coating. The reliability of the composite scaffold is improved and coating effectiveness is enhanced significantly with the increase of coating concentration, but unevenness becomes more pronounced. The evaluation of mechanical properties and microstructural morphology shows that the composite scaffold with a polycaprolactone concentration of 0.20 g/mL exhibits the best overall performance. This study lays a foundation for the fabrication of composite scaffolds that meet the mechanical property requirements of both bone growth and bone reinforcement stages. © 2024 Xi'an Jiaotong University. All rights reserved.