Polycaprolactone Composite Membranes Containing Polyphenol - Loaded Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles for Bone Regeneration

To provide adequate conditions for the regeneration of damaged bone, it is necessary to develop porous membranes with anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, we fabricated composite membranes comprising polycaprolactone (PCL) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)-introduced hydroxyapatite (HA) (HAE) nanoparticles using an electrospinning process. The resulting composite membranes exhibited completely interconnected pore structures. The average diameter of the composite membranes was slightly decreased by the addition of the HAE nanoparticles. Cytocompatibility test results revealed that the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1) on the membranes increased with the high content of HAE nanoparticles because of the improved anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the membranes. These results suggest that the PCL composite membranes are an ideal biomaterial for bone tissue regeneration.