Preparation and characterization of PCL@β-TCP composite antibacterial scaffolds by additive manufacturing

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) are promising materials for bone tissue engineering due to their complementary biodegradability and osteoconductivity. However, their individual limitations hinder clinical application. In this study, PCL@β-TCP composite scaffolds containing 5%, 10%, and 20% β-TCP were fabricated via fused deposition modeling (FDM). The effects of β-TCP content on the physicochemical, mechanical, and antibacterial properties of the scaffolds were systematically investigated. Results showed that increasing β-TCP content enhanced hydrophilicity (contact angle reduced from 89.1° to 66.9°), accelerated biodegradation (higher weight loss after 103 days in PBS), and improved antibacterial activity, as evidenced by larger inhibition zones against E. coli and S. aureus. These findings demonstrate that β-TCP incorporation effectively enhances the bioactivity and antibacterial performance of PCL scaffolds, highlighting their potential for bone tissue engineering applications, particularly in non-load-bearing contexts.