From Sudden Collapse to Gradual Softening: Mechanical Behavior of PCL-Modified Magnesium Foam Scaffolds

This study investigates the mechanical and degradation properties of magnesium (Mg)-based scaffolds coated with polycaprolactone (PCL) and bioactive glass (BaG). Three strategies were evaluated: pure PCL coatings (Strategy A), Mg-PCL composites (Strategy B), and hybrid PCL-BAG coatings (Strategy C). Scaffolds with ۴۰% porosity and ۶% PCL in Strategy C exhibited the best performance, with a ۳۶.۶% reduction in compressive strength (UCS) after ۱۴ days in simulated body fluid (SBF). In contrast, the uncoated pure Mg scaffolds showed a ۹۶.۹% reduction in UCS. Strategy C also demonstrated superior degradation resistance, with a ۷۷.۷% reduction in degradation compared to uncoated samples. Results indicate that hybrid PCL-BaG coatings provide optimal mechanical stability and degradation resistance, making them the most effective solution for enhancing Mg scaffold performance in biomedical applications.

کلیدواژه ها:

Magnesium scaffolds ، Polycaprolactone (PCL) ، Bioactive Glass (BaG) ، Degradation resistance