title: Vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cell culture on NaOH-treated poly(epsilon-caprolactone) films: a preliminary study for vascular graft development.
abstract: Tissue engineering offers the potential of providing vessels that can be used to replace diseased and damaged native blood vessels. The endothelization of a synthetic vascular graft minimizes the failures associated with blood clotting and platelet activation. The aim of this study was to culture vascular-derived endothelial and smooth muscle cells on both untreated and NaOH-treated poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) films, a biocompatible and bio-resorbable polymer, and to evaluate the behavior of both cell types as a preliminary study for vascular graft development. PCL films were prepared by hot pressing; characterized by DSC, IR, SEM, and scanning force microscopy; and treated with NaOH to increase the surface hydrophilicity before cell culture. Endothelial and smooth muscle cells, isolated from pig cava vein, were characterized by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy studies of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and alpha-smooth muscle actin. Good adhesion, growth, viability and morphology of both the endothelial and smooth muscle cells on PCL films were obtained, but a light stimulation of mitochondrial activity was observed during short culture times. NaOH treatment improved the adhesion and enhanced the proliferation in both cell types. This verified the possible use of this modified polymer as a support in the preparation of a synthetic vascular graft. [Diagram: see text] SEM micrograph of smooth muscle cells cultured on NaOH-treated PCL film. (Original magnification: 1000x).
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Faculty of Chemistry, Universidad Complutense, 28040-Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: María Concepción
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.forename: María Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Portolés
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vallet-Regí
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Galletti
authors.forename: Juan Valentín
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Comas
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pagani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D018920:Coculture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011091:Polyesters; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide