Development of bioactive glass-poly-Ɛ-caprolactone polymer composite film for soft tissue regeneration

Biomaterials known as bioactive glasses (BG) have been introduced for application in medicine and dentistry since 1969. Bioactive glasses are biodegradable and compatible towards human used and enhanced properties can be achieved by adding compatible polymers such as Poly-Ɛ-caprolactone (PCL) that is Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved. Aim of the study was to develop composite films fabricated by adding PCL reinforced with BG at 5 and 10 weight percent (wt.%), characterized using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) with Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and subjected to biocompatibility assay using AlamarBlue towards Human Dermal Fibroblast (HDF) and Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC). Results showed that pristine PCL morphology is smooth. The addition of BG in the composite film leads to increase in surface roughness with agglomeration and formation of pits with certain pores in between when the BG weight increases from 5 to 10 wt.%. Carbon and oxygen were the predominant elements of PCL. As for PCL/BG, existence of Si, Ca, Na and P were expected confirming the inorganic phase incorporation into the film showing certain homogeneity. AlamarBlue cell viability assay demonstrated the produced composite film is biocompatible towards HDF and HUVEC as observed by the increase percentage of viable cells upon exposure at Days 1, 4 and 7. These results are promising for further studies on PCL/BG film and development of wound patch to facilitate wound healing and the potential for guided tissue regeneration.