Polycaprolactone/Retinoic Acid/Nano-Hydroxyapatite Composites for Neural Tissue Engineering Publisher



Madaninasab P ; Ebrahimianhosseinabadi M ; Zargar Kharazi A
Source: Materials Chemistry and Physics Published:2026

Abstract

Neural tissue engineering demands advanced biomimetic scaffolds capable of guiding cellular adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. In this study, the physical, mechanical, and biocompatibility properties of Polycaprolactone (PCL)/retinoic acid (RA)/nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) composites were evaluated for their potential application in nerve tissue engineering scaffolds. Initially, fibers with varying percentages of RA were produced through electrospinning, followed by phase characterization using XRD, EDS, and fiber diameter analysis using SEM. Tensile testing was performed to assess the effects of RA and nHA on the mechanical properties of the samples. RA release was measured using UV-vis spectrophotometry, while the cell viability of PC12 cells was assessed through the MTT assay. The results showed that the elastic modulus of the 91PCL/6RA/3nHA sample was approximately 3.5 MPa, which is closer to the elastic modulus of nerve tissue. Additionally, the 91PCL/6RA/3nHA nanocomposite degraded 6.6% more than the 94PCL/6RA sample after eight weeks. In the release test, 96% of RA was released at a constant rate over 36 h, resulting in approximating zero-order behavior. The MTT assay revealed that the 94PCL/6RA sample decreased the viability of nerve cells, whereas the 91PCL/6RA/3nHA composite showed a 22.45% increase in cell viability ( p < 0.05) compared to the RA-containing sample. This study supports the hypothesis that the synergistic combination of RA as a biochemical agent and nHA as a bioactive agent with nanoscale features enhances scaffold performance. When incorporated into a polycaprolactone scaffold with suitable mechanical properties, biodegradability, and sustained RA release, this combination can optimize cell viability and adhesion. © 2026 Elsevier B.V.