Polycaprolactone scaffold as targeted drug delivery system and cell attachment scaffold for postsurgical care of limb salvage

In this paper, a dual-function drug-laden polycaprolactone scaffold, which can serve as both targeted drug delivery system and attachment platform for tissue regeneration for the postsurgical care of limb salvage procedure, was developed with a simple and solvent-free molding technique. Scaffolds of varying surface architecture were created using poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate microneedle arrays. A model drug, rhodamine B, was incorporated homogenously into the scaffold. In vitro drug release studies showed that rhodamine B was released in a slow and sustained manner for 112 days. Its release rate was affected by drug loading and scaffold surface architecture. Release of rhodamine B from the scaffolds followed the Higuchi diffusion model. Other drugs, namely, doxorubicin and lidocaine hydrochloride, were also effectively loaded into and released from the scaffolds. Cell attachment study demonstrated potential for the scaffolds to provide attachment platforms for tissue regeneration.