Simple surface modification of poly(ε-caprolactone) for apatite deposition from simulated body fluid

Poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) with a bone-like apatite layer bound to its surface could be useful as a scaffold for tissue engineering applications. In the present study, the surface of PCL was treated with aqueous NaOH to introduce carboxylate groups onto the surface. The NaOH-treated material was subsequently dipped in aqueous CaCl2 and K(2)HPO(4)(.)3H(2)O alternately three times to deposit apatite nuclei on the surface. The surface-modified material successfully formed a dense and uniform bone-like surface a patite layer after incubation for 24 h in simulated body fluid with ion concentrations approximately equal to those of human blood plasma. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.