A Mineralized Collagen-Polycaprolactone Composite Promotes Healing of a Porcine Mandibular Defect.

A tissue engineering approach to address craniofacial defects requires a biomaterial that balances macro-scale mechanical stiffness and strength with the micron-scale features that promote cell expansion and tissue biosynthesis. Such criteria are often in opposition, leading to suboptimal mechanical competence or bioactivity. We report the use of a multiscale composite biomaterial that integrates a polycaprolactone (PCL) reinforcement structure with a mineralized collagen-glycosaminoglycan scaffold to circumvent conventional tradeoffs between mechanics and bioactivity.