A synergistic relationship between PCL and natural polymers enhances the physical properties and biological activity of scaffolds

Biomaterials for tissue engineering include natural and synthetic polymers but their clinical application is still limited due to various disadvantages associated with the use of these polymers. This uncertainty of the polymeric approach in tissue engineering launches an opportunity to address a key question: can we eliminate the disadvantages of both natural and synthetic polymers by combining them to form a synergistic relationship? To answer this question, we fabricated scaffolds from elastin, collagen, fibrin and electrospun PCL with different ratios. The material characterisation of these scaffolds investigated degradation, water contact angle, angiogenesis by an ex ovo chorion allantoic membrane (CAM) assay, mechanical and structural properties. Biological activity and specific differentiation pathways (MSC, adipogenic, osteogenic, myogenic, chondrogenic) were studied by using human adipose-derived stem cells. Results indicated that all composite polymers degraded at a different rate thus affecting ...