Enhanced Poly(Lactic‐Co‐Glycolic Acid) Composite for Bone Tissue Repair Applications: A Comprehensive Optimization Approach

ABSTRACT This study explores Poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA)‐based scaffolds modified with 10 wt% polycaprolactone (PCL), polylactic acid (PLA), and polyurethane (PU) to enhance their performance. The composite films were characterized by tensile testing, degradability, water absorption, thermal stability, and cell viability. The PLGA/PU group exhibited improved flexibility, while PLGA/PLA showed optimal water absorption (28%) and increased wettability. Contact angle measurements revealed a reduction in hydrophobicity for the PLA (44.4 ± 1 degrees) and PU (43.3 ± 1.6 degrees) groups. Thermal analysis confirmed enhanced thermal resistance for the PLGA/PLA and PLGA/PU composites, making them suitable for applications requiring thermal stability. Additionally, the MTT assay demonstrated over 90% cell viability for the PLGA/PLA group, underscoring its biocompatibility. These findings highlight the potential of PLGA/PLA composites for bone scaffold applications, particularly in additive manufacturing. This study demonstrates that incorporating PLA into PLGA improves key scaffold properties and offers a versatile material for advanced bone tissue engineering.