Fibrous‐biocomposites scaffold of natural rubber with bioactive glass–ceramic particles obtained by solution blowing spinning

Abstract

Bioactive glass‐ceramics (BGs) are widely used in clinical applications due to their excellent biodynamic and biological properties, though their low mechanical strength limits their use in load‐bearing contexts. This study aimed to develop fibrous biocomposite scaffolds based on natural rubber (NR) reinforced with BG particles, such as biosilicato (BioS) and 45S5‐K (BL0), to improve tensile strength, biocompatibility, and bioactivity for biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering. Morphological, tensile, thermal, and biological tests were conducted to evaluate the impact of BG particles on the NR fibrous matrix. TG/DTG analysis revealed similar decomposition profiles for NR/BioS and NR/BL0 biocomposites compared to NR mats, with primary degradation occurring in the 290–450°C range. Tensile tests demonstrated that the addition of 30 mass% BioS or BL0 enhanced the ultimate tensile strength (σbreak) of the NR matrix from 1.44 ± 0.08 to 3.38 ± 1.31 MPa (NR/BioS) and 1.97 ± 0.53 MPa (NR/BL0). The Cole–Cole plot indicated system heterogeneity and strong NR‐BG particle interactions. Cytotoxicity tests revealed over 70% MSC viability for NR, NR/BioS, and NR/BL0 biocomposites, meeting ISO 10993‐5:2009 standards. These findings suggest that incorporating BioS and BL0 enhances the mechanical and biological properties of NR‐based scaffolds, making them suitable for biomedical applications, such as bone regeneration.