A solvent-assisted compression molded of poly(L-lactide)/hydroxyapatite electrospun fibers for robust engineered scaffold systems

In an attempt to enhance the biocompatibility and mechanical strength of fibrous polymeric scaffold systems, nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (HAp) particles were incorporated into the electrospun poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) fibers and then mechanically interlocked using a vaporphase solvent adsorption method. The solvent-assisted compression molding substantially increased the tensile strength (from 4.61 to 12.63 MPa) and mechanical modulus (from 50.6 to 627.7 MPa) of the fibrous scaffold, which maintained the interstitial space between the fibers to allow the facile transport of nutrients and waste during cell growth and polymer biodegradation. Macrometer-sized pores (ca. 100-400 μm) were introduced into the scaffolds in a controlled fashion using the salt leaching/gas forming technique to give desired space for a facile cell implantation and growth. Overall, the developed methodology allows the polymer-based scaffold systems to be tailored for various applications in light of surface characteristics, mechanical strength, and pore size of engineered scaffolds.