The effect of fluorine content on the mechanical properties of poly (ε-caprolactone)/nano-fluoridated hydroxyapatite scaffold for bone-tissue engineering

In this study, the effect of fluorine content on the mechanical properties of the novel poly (epsilon-caprolactone)/nano-fluoridated hydroxyapatite nanocomposite scaffolds was investigated. Poly (epsilon-caprolactone)/nano-fluoridated hydroxyapatite (PCL-FHA) scaffolds were produced by solvent casting/particulate leaching method. The fluoridated hydroxyapatite nanopowders had a chemical composition of Ca-10(PO4)(6)OH2-xFx (where x values were selected equal to 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2.0). Various weight percentages (10, 20, 30 and 40) of the FHA were added to the PCL. Sodium chloride (NaCl) particles having diameter of 300-500 mu m were used as porogen. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were used to identify the phase structure and functional groups of obtained scaffolds. Mechanical properties of the prepared scaffolds were also determined. Results showed that the compressive strength of scaffolds increases with decreasing the weight percent of fluorine in FHA. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.