Poly(ε-caprolactone) and poly(d,l-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) scaffolds used in bone tissue engineering prepared by melt compression-particulate leaching method

Porous bioresorbable polymers have been widely used as scaffolds in tissue engineering. Most of the bioresorbable scaffolds are aliphatic polyesters and the methods employed to prepare the porous morphology may vary. This work describes and evaluates the in vitro degradation of porous and dense scaffolds of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(d,l-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (50/50) (PLGA50) prepared by particulate leaching-melt compression process. Biological evaluation was carried out using osteoblast cell cultures. The results showed an autocatalytic effect on the dense samples. Osteoblasts presented intermediate adhesion and the cell morphology on the surface of these materials was dispersed, which indicated a good interaction of the cells with the surface and the material.