3D-printable, heat-resistant polycaprolactone-based polymer scaffold for sustained NO release in tissue engineering applications.

This study entailed the development of a nitric oxide (NO)-releasing, 3D-printable, heat-resistant polymer scaffold to support angiogenesis and osteogenesis for tissue engineering applications. A scaffold synthesized with poly(nitrocarbonate)-poly(ε-caprolactone) random copolymer (PNC-ran-PCL) enabled controlled NO release, addressing the rapid diffusion limitations found in conventional NO delivery systems. The thermoplastic properties of PNC-ran-PCL facilitate the creation of biomimetic structures tailored to patient-specific requirements. In vitro assessments showed that the scaffold was non-toxic and that it promoted the proliferation and activity of human umbilical vein endothelial cells, supporting angiogenic functions. In vivo studies using a rat calvarial defect model further demonstrated enhanced vascularization and initial bone formation around the scaffold, highlighting its potential to promote early bone regeneration. The proposed NO-releasing scaffold, which is capable of low-temperature extrusion, has promising applications in in-situ tissue engineering and provides a versatile solution for large-area tissue repair. Further studies on optimized NO-release kinetics are required to enhance the efficacy of the proposed scaffold in osteogenic applications.