Mechanical Properties of Multicomponent Fibrous Bone Scaffold Using a Nanoindentation Technique

Considerable advancements have been achieved in the development of biomaterials for bone regeneration. However, challenges persist in creating scaffolds that accurately replicate the structure and mechanical properties of native bone tissue. To enhance clinical outcomes in bone tissue engineering, researchers are investigating novel materials and fabrication methods. This study focused on producing an osteoinductive scaffold with enhanced mechanical properties akin to native bone by incorporating Sr/Zn doped nanohydroxyapatite (nHAp), collagen (Col), and poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) polymer. Three different doping percentages of Sr and Zn (1%, 2.5%, and 4%) were employed. The electrospinning process was optimized to fabricate nanofibrous scaffolds, and the scaffold with the most favorable mechanical properties was characterized further using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The scaffolds doped with Sr and Zn exhibited superior mechanical characteristics compared to the non-doped scaffold, with the 4% Sr/Zn-nHAp-Col-PLGA scaffold displaying the highest values. Notably, the 4% Sr/Zn-nHAp-Col-PLGA scaffold demonstrated Young's modulus of 9.91 ± 1.7 GPa, indicating its potential for bone regeneration. SEM imaging revealed that the scaffold had fiber diameters of 318.8 ± 0.088 nm and pore size of 193 ± 53 μm further supporting its suitability for bone tissue engineering.