Direct writing of polycaprolactone polymer for potential biomedical engineering applications

Topography, which in this paper includes the surface features and the features themselves, is a crucial physical cue for cells, influencing cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation and should be considered when designing biomedical architectures. A new technique using electrohydrodynamic (EH) print-patterning is described that generates ordered topographies using proven biomaterials and composites. Coupling this method with solvent evaporation techniques, desirable scaffold properties can be achieved. To demonstrate this, various solutions of polycaprolactone (PCL) and its composites (using nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA)) have been selected to generate topographic and 3D structures. Electrically driven patterning of the polymer is achievable and can be used to deposit fine (<5 µm) ordered structures, according to a predetermined architecture via a computer with control on porosity and bioactivity. The results from this study indicate that this method to deposit bioactive structures with morphology control will offer great potential in biomedical engineering.