Antibacterial and osteoconductive polycaprolactone/polylactic acid/nano-hydroxyapatite/Cu@ZIF-8 GBR membrane with asymmetric porous structure

Repair of periodontal and maxillofacial bone defects is a major challenge in clinical. Guided bone regeneration (GBR) is considered one of the most effective methods. However, the efficacy of currently available GBR membranes for repair is frequently limited by their poor osteogenic potential and lack of antibacterial activity. The first step in this investigation was to construct a zinc-based zeolite-imidazolate framework loaded with copper ions (Cu@ZIF-8). Following that, a novel polycaprolactone/polylactic acid/nano-hydroxyapatite/Cu@ZIF-8 (PCL/PLA/n-HA/Cu@ZIF-8) GBR membrane was developed using a simple porogen with nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) approach. The produced membrane with asymmetric porous structure (one smooth side and one rough side) possesses hydrophilicity corresponding to the roughness of its two sides. The superior mechanical property, stability of degradation, and ion release capability of the membrane all contribute to the clinical feasibility. Additionally, in vitro biological experiments demonstrated that the PCL/PLA/n-HA/Cu@ZIF-8 membrane had favorable osteogenic and antibacterial properties, which suggests the high potential for application in the GBR procedure.