Novel BCP-Bioactive Glass-Akermanite/PCL Composite Scaffold: Physical and Mechanical Behavior, and in Vitro Bioactivity

In the present study, biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP)-bioactive glass-akermanite/PCL composite scaffold with high porosity (80%) was successfully fabricated using polymeric sponge replication and dip–coating methods. The composite was characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, physical and mechanical properties of the composite were evaluated using porosity and compressive strength measurements. In vitro bioactivity of the composite was carried out using simulated body fluid solution (SBF). Results showed that PCL, as a polymeric coating, incremented the mechanical strength of ceramic scaffolds from 0.97 to 1.9MPa, confirming its fundamental role in recovering the mechanical properties of scaffolds in bone tissue engineering. Bioactivity evaluation resulted in developing an apatite–like layer on the surface of the scaffolds, which verified the proper bioactivity of the scaffolds. The results showed that this novel composite scaffold has the potential to be applied as a temporary substrate for bone tissue engineering.