Polycaprolactone-polymethyl methacrylate electrospun blends for biomedical applications

Electrospinning is one of most versatile process to fabricate porous scaffolds in biomedical field. Synthetic polymers such as polycaprolactone (PCL) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) provide excellent properties for biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility and tunable mechanical properties. PCL-PMMA electrospun blends combine compressive/tensile properties of individual polymers as well as biocompatibility/biodegradability. Together with porosity of scaffold, drug/nutrient supply is required in tissue regeneration and healing. High pressure CO₂ has been investigated to plasticize many biopolymers and impregnate drugs in scaffolds. This study explores several compositions of PCL-PMMA electrospun scaffolds for morphological and mechanical properties. These scaffolds are impregnated with hydrophilic (Rhodamine B) and hydrophobic (Fluorescein) dyes using high pressure CO₂ and air plasma treatment. Furthermore, release profiles of dyes have been studied from thin films and porous scaffolds to understand several controlling factors for controlled release applications. Results show dye-polymer interactions, CO₂ impregnation and stress relaxation of electrospun fibers are key factors in release profile from electrospun fibers. This study is a step forward in developing PCL-PMMA based electrospun scaffolds for drug delivery and tissue engineering.