Electrospun aligned PLLA/PCL/HA composite fibrous membranes and their in vitro degradation behaviors

Aligned poly(L-lactide) (PLLA)/poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL)/hydroxyapatite (HA) composite fibrous membranes were fabricated by electrospinning. Their morphology, porosity, water contact angle and in vitro degradation behaviors were investigated. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) indicated that the electrospun fibers are highly aligned and the HA are oriented along the fiber axis. The PLLA/PCL/HA composite fibers become thinner when HA are incorporated. The energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS) demonstrated the existence of HA in the PLLA/PCL fibers. In addition, the larger porosity and higher hydrophilic properties induced by HA in the electrospun fibers have improved the biodegradation of the PLLA/PCL/HA fibrous membranes. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.