Mechanical properties and fatigue analysis on poly(ε-caprolactone)-polydopamine-coated nanofibers and poly(ε-caprolactone)-carbon nanotube composite scaffolds

•Formic acid was used for producing PCL and PCL-carbon nanotube electrospun mats.•Fatigue tests under conditions that mimic the heart beats (1Hz) were conducted.•Polydopamine coating did not add mechanical strength to the polycaprolactone mats.•0.5% of CNTs within the PCL nanofibers improved the fatigue limit of the scaffolds.