Poly (ɛ-caprolactone)/poly (ethylene oxide)/hydroxyapatite nanofibrous composite scaffolds used for bone tissue regeneration, potentially: effect of chamomile extract

• Developing PCL/PEO/HAp nanofibrous composite containing 1 wt% HAp and 8 wt% CE. • HAp controlled CE release to 60% and increased tensile strength from 0.9 to 2.3 MPa. • Demonstrating HAp/CE effects, improving wettability and biodegradation to 59.58% • Enhancing remarkable MSC osteogenesis (16% in ALP activity) in presence of HAp/CE. Bioactive nanofibrous scaffolds have emerged as highly promising platforms for bone tissue engineering owing to their exceptional physicochemical characteristics and biological performance. In this study, electrospun poly(ɛ-caprolactone)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PCL/PEO) composite nanofibers incorporated with hydroxyapatite (HAp) and chamomile extract (CE) were optimized and systematically evaluated in vitro. The optimal polymeric composition was identified as PCL/PEO 75:25 wt% at a total solution concentration of 12% (w/v). Precise adjustment of electrospinning parameters, including an applied voltage of 25 kV, flow rate of 0.6 mL/h, and a needle-to-collector distance of 15 cm, yielded uniform nanofibers with an average diameter of 479 nm. Incorporation of 1% (w/v) HAp markedly enhanced mechanical integrity and thermal stability, elevating the decomposition temperature by approximately 50°C. The synergistic inclusion of CE significantly improved biological performance. CE release exhibited an initial burst followed by a controlled and sustained profile, consistent with first-order kinetics and a Fickian diffusion mechanism, particularly in the presence of HAp. Moreover, simultaneous incorporation of CE and HAp accelerated scaffold biodegradation over 30 days. The hydrophilic scaffold supported human dermal fibroblast adhesion and viability and effectively promoted osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells, as evidenced by alkaline phosphatase activity and mineral deposition assays.