title: Surface modification of biodegradable electrospun nanofiber scaffolds and their interaction with fibroblasts.
abstract: Biodegradable polymers, such as poly(glycolic acid) (PGA), poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), were dissolved individually in the proper solvents and then subjected to electrospinning process to make nanofibrous scaffolds. Their surfaces were then chemically modified using oxygen plasma treatment and in situ grafting of hydrophilic acrylic acid (AA). The fiber thickness, pore size and porosity were estimated to 200-800 nm, 2-30 microm and 94-96%, respectively, and these properties were insignificant in the PGA, PLLA and PLGA nanofibrous scaffolds. The ultimate tensile strength of PGA was about 2.5 MPa on average and that of PLGA and PLLA was less than 2 MPa. The elongation-at-break was 100-130% for the three nanofibrous scaffolds. When the surface properties of AA-grafted scaffolds were examined, higher ratios of oxygen to carbon, lower contact angles and the presence of carboxylic (-COOH) groups were identified. The properties were significantly different from those of the unmodified nanofibrous scaffolds. Fibroblasts once seeded on the scaffolds were spreading over large surface area on the AA-grafted surface as compared to the unmodified PGA, PLLA and PLGA nanofibrous scaffolds. Cultured for up to 6 days, the fibroblast proliferation was found to be much better on the surface-modified nanofibrous scaffolds. The present study showed that, with the use of plasma treatment and AA grafting, the hydrophilic functional groups could be successfully adapted on the surface of electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds. Those surface-modified scaffolds made significant improvement on cell attachment and proliferation in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Biomaterials Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 131, Cheongryang, Seoul 130-650, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kwideok
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: Jun Sik
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Kwang-Duk
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Dong Keun
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D032701:Biomimetics / Q000379:methods*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002465:Cell Movement; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D012997:Solvents; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid