PCL-CNT nano-composites for bone tissue engineering application

Bone injuries and defects, caused by trauma, malformation, osteoporosis and tumours, are therapeutically challenging. Autografts and allografts are ideal treatment approaches for bone regeneration. However, they may be associated with a number of complications, and outcomes are variable. Therefore, bone substitute biomaterials, which not only effectively solved the problem of limited supply, but also provided possibility for reducing immune-complications and enhancing bone formation properties, have shown great potential for bone tissue engineering application. Currently, polycaprolactone (PCL) are widely used for the production of scaffolds for tissue engineering thanks to its superior rheological and viscoelastic properties. Nevertheless, some intrinsic drawbacks, hydrophobic chemical nature, interaction with biological fluids prevent cells adhesion and proliferation, for instance, limited PCL’s application. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), with excellent osteoinductivity and osteoconductivity, offer a natural platform for obtaining composite micro-fabricated scaffolds thanks to their outstanding mechanical properties and good biocompatibility, even they are not biodegradable. Thus, PCL-CNT nanocomposites, combined PCL and CNTs to maintain their advantages as well as minimise their drawbacks, could be used as effective bone substitute biomaterials for bone regeneration.