Fabrication of 3D electrospun structures from poly(lactide-co-glycolide acid)-nano-hydroxyapatite composites

The fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) electrospun composite scaffolds was presented in this study. Layers of electrospun meshes made from composites of poly(lactide-co-glycolide acid) (PLGA) and hydroxyapatite (HA) were stacked and sintered using pressurized gas. Three HA concentrations of 5, 10, and 20 wt % were tested, and the addition of the HA nanoparticles decreased the tensile mechanical properties of the meshes with 20 wt % HA. However, after the gas absorption process, the fibers within the mesh sintered, which improved the mechanical properties more than twofold. The fabrication of 3D, porous, electrospun scaffolds was also demonstrated. The resulting 3D scaffolds had open porosity of up to 70% and modulus of similar to 20 MPa. This technique improves on the current electrospinning technology by overcoming the challenges of depositing a thick, 3D structure. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011