Abstract: Nano hydroxyapatite (n-HA) and its composite with poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) were fabricated by hydrothermally synthesized method, and the well interconnected macroporous nano-composite scaffolds with pore diameter from 200μm to 400μm were prepared by melt-cast/salt particle-leaching technique. The biological properties of the composite scaffolds were investigated through cell culture and animal implanted experimentation. The results show that porosity of the composite scaffolds increases with the increase of the quantity of the porogens used while the compressive strength decrease. The maximal porosity of the composite scaffold can reach 86% while its compressive strength is only 2.4MPa. The attachment ratio and proliferation of MG63 cells on the composite scaffolds increase with the increase of HA content in the composite, which are significantly higher than those of PCL alone. Histological examinations confirm that the new bony tissue could grow easily into the composite scaffold and directly integrate with the composite by bone-bonding. The results indicate that the n-HA/PCL composite scaffolds have excellent biocompatibility and bioactivity.

Key words: nano hydroxyapatite, poly(ε-caprolactone), composite, tissue engineering scaffold, bioactivity