Controlled Degradation in Bone Tissue Scaffolds: A Review of PCL-Enhanced PLA Composites with Naturally Derived Hydroxyapatite
Keywords:
Hydroxyapatite, Polymer, Bone Tissue Engineering, Composite, scaffoldAbstract
Bone tissue engineering demands scaffolds with degradation rates that precisely match natural bone regeneration, a challenge that has driven research into composite biomaterials. Traditional polymer-based scaffolds often exhibit sub-optimal degradation profiles, with polylactic acid (PLA) typically degrading too rapidly while creating potentially harmful acidic environments. This review examines how polycaprolactone (PCL) enhances PLA scaffolds in reinforcing naturally derived hydroxyapatite (HAp) from cockle shell to achieve tuneable degradation behaviour for bone tissue applications. Literature review of various PCL/PLA ratios indicates that compositions containing 30-50% PCL have been reported to provide favourable degradation profiles while maintaining adequate mechanical support throughout the regeneration process. Current research demonstrates that PCL-enhanced PLA/HAp composites exhibit more gradual degradation with improved mechanical property retention compared to single-polymer systems. However, significant gaps remain in understanding the complex interactions between HAp synthesis parameters and polymer degradation mechanics, as well as in establishing reliable correlations between in vitro and in vivo performance. Future research should focus on systematically investigating these relationships while developing advanced manufacturing techniques that precisely control spatial component distribution for optimized degradation profiles that match specific anatomical requirements
