Researcher(s)
- Victoria Aubain, Chemical Engineering, Howard University
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Michael Hast, Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware
Abstract
Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a common biomaterial used to fabricate bone scaffolds due to its mechanical stability, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. However, the material is naturally hydrophobic, which limits cell attachment, tissue integration, and adhesion of bioactive surface coatings. This study investigated the use of oxygen plasma treatment and gelatin-based coatings to improve the surface properties of 3D-printed PCL scaffolds. A total of 108 cylindrical scaffolds with gyroid lattices were additively manufactured and treated with oxygen plasma for 2–4 minutes. The scaffolds were then dip-coated in gelatin with concentrations ranging from 2% to 4%. Two crosslinking methods (ultraviolet light and carbodiimide crosslinking chemistry) were then evaluated to improve coating stability. Static water contact angle measurements assessed surface wettability, while coating uniformity and surface coverage were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mass-retention studies were conducted by drying scaffolds and placing them in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for 7 days. Comparisons among untreated PCL, plasma-treated PCL, and gelatin-coated groups were used to assess the effects of time in the plasma chamber, coating composition, and crosslinking method. Future work will focus on creating multi-layered coatings that can be used to elute bone-forming orthobiologics, including zinc, hydroxyapatite, and bioglasses.