Enhancement of the osteoinductive properties of PCL scaffolds through surface modification with APTES plasma

Scaffolds with osteoinductive properties are crucial in bone tissue engineering, as they facilitate cell differentiation and provide structural support for bone tissue regeneration. This study focuses on manufacturing a polycaprolactone scaffold with osteoinductive properties using the electrospinning technique, followed by surface modification with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) plasma treatment. The electrospun scaffolds exhibited uniform, defect-free fibers, with suitable average fiber and pore sizes for bone tissue engineering applications. Treatment with APTES plasma resulted in particle formation on the scaffold surface. Regarding the physicochemical results, thermogravimetric analysis revealed a significant reduction in the temperature of mass loss in the APTES-treated PCL scaffolds, with the peak of maximum mass loss shifting from 419.2 °C to 416.1 °C. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses confirmed the presence of nitrogen (N) and silicon (Si), as well as SiO2, C–NH3, and NH3+ functionalities on the scaffold surface. Once the successful deposition of particles derived from APTES plasma was verified, osteogenic differentiation assays were conducted with dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), demonstrating the formation of mineralized nodules, and highlighting the potential of these scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications.