Vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cell culture on NaOH-treated poly(epsilon-caprolactone) films: a preliminary study for vascular graft development.
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).
Serrano
María Concepción
MC
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Faculty of Chemistry, Universidad Complutense, 28040-Madrid, Spain.
Portolés
María Teresa
MT
Vallet-Regí
María
M
Izquierdo
Isabel
I
Galletti
Lorenzo
L
Comas
Juan Valentín
JV
Pagani
Raffaella
R
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
D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide