Degradation and cell culture studies on block copolymers prepared by ring opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol).
Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) and its block copolymers with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were prepared by ring-opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone in the presence of ethylene glycol or PEG, using zinc metal as catalyst. The resulting polymers were characterized by various analytical techniques such as (1)H NMR, SEC, DSC, IR, X-ray, ESEM, and CZE. PCL/PEG copolymers with long PCL chains presented the same crystalline structure as PCL homopolymer, whereas PEG-bearing short PCL blocks retained the crystalline structure of PEG and exhibited an amphiphilic behavior in aqueous solutions. Degradation of PCL and PCL/PEG diblock and triblock copolymers was realized in a 0.13 M, pH 7.4 phosphate buffer at 37 degrees C. The results indicated that the copolymers exhibited higher hydrophilicity and degradability compared with the PCL homopolymer. Large amounts of PEG were released from the bulk after 60 weeks' degradation. In vitro cell culture studies were conducted on scaffolds manufactured via solid free form fabrication by using primary human and rat bone marrow derived stromal cells (hMSC, rMSC). Light, scanning electron, and confocal laser microscopy, as well as immunocytochemistry, showed cell attachment, proliferation, and extracellular matrix production on the surface, as well as inside the scaffold architecture. Copolymers showed better performance in the cell culture studies than the PCL homopolymer.
Huang
Ming-Hsi
MH
Centre de Recherche sur les Biopolymères Artificiels, Faculté de Pharmacie, 15 avenue Charles Flahault, 34060 Montpellier, France.
Li
Suming
S
Hutmacher
Dietmar Werner
DW
Schantz
Jan-Thorsten
JT
Vacanti
Charles Alfred
CA
Braud
Christian
C
Vert
Michel
M
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002208:Caproates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007783:Lactones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002208:Caproates; D007783:Lactones; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C121056:caprolactone