Electrospun Composites of Bioactive Glass/Pomegranate Seed Oil/Poly(ε-caprolactone) for Bone Tissue Engineering

Abstract

The increasing demand for bone tissue implants due to population growth and the need to replace damaged bone has led to the development of novel scaffold systems in bone tissue applications. In this study, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) electrospun nanofiber scaffolds were fabricated using the electrospinning method, incorporating 45S5 bioactive glass (BG) particles—synthesized by the melt quenching method—and pomegranate seed oil (PSO), a natural component known to enhance bone regeneration. For this purpose, the effect of different concentrations of PSO (5, 10, and 15% w/w relative to PCL) was investigated, while the BG content was kept constant at 15% w/w. The scaffolds were further analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy- dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and water contact angle tests, which showed that nanofibers were formed and that PSO was successfully incorporated into the nanofibers. Bioactivity assays were carried out in simulated body fluid for 28 days, and the nanofiber structures were examined using SEM, EDS, and XRD. The nanofiber loaded with BG and PSO at the concentration of 15% w/w showed a higher formation of the hydroxyapatite-like layer compared to the scaffolds containing PSO at concentrations of 5 and 10% w/w. Furthermore, the MTT assay using L929 fibroblast cells demonstrated the cytocompatibility of the developed membranes. These results suggest that the combination of BG and PSO in PCL nanofibers may be useful for improving bone tissue regeneration strategies.