Improvement in poly(ε-caprolactone) bio-activity. Structural characterization and in vitro assessment

Abstract

Model PCL homopolymers (anionic polymerization) were synthetized and chemically functionalized with anhydrides to improve their bio-activity. Modified polyesters were used to fabricate highly porous PCL membranes by leaching technique, reaching porosities values up to 86.1%. Microstructural characterization revealed that chemical modification did not affect thermal properties and mechanical stabilities of PCL membranes. In vitro assays were carried out by soaking samples in simulated body fluid (SBF) solution. By SEM-EDX and TGA analyses, it was observed that modified polyesters exhibited a hydroxyapatite layer over polymeric surfaces, with calcium/phosphorous ratio of 1.58, close to the value reported by literature for hard tissue.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Anhydrides
• bioactivity assessment
• chemical functionalization
• highly porous membranes
• poly(ε-caprolactone)

Acknowledgments

We express our gratitude to the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas [CONICET, Argentina, GRANT PIP0428], the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo [GRANT SECTYP L018/PIP0439] and the Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica [GRANT PICT-2016-0181].