The effect of elastin on chondrocyte adhesion and proliferation on poly (ɛ-caprolactone)/elastin composites.
The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effect of elastin on chondrocyte adhesion and proliferation within the structure of poly (ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL)/elastin composites. The homogenous 3D structure composites were constructed by using high pressure CO(2) in two stages. Porous PCL structures with average pore sizes of 540 ± 21 μm and a high degree of interconnectivity were produced using gas foaming/salt leaching. The PCL scaffolds were then impregnated with elastin and cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (GA) under high pressure CO(2). The effects of elastin and cross-linker concentrations on the characteristics of composites were investigated. Increasing the elastin concentration from 25mg/ml to 100mg/ml elevated the amount of cross-linked elastin inside the macropores of PCL. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis showed that elastin was homogeneously distributed throughout the 3D structure of all composites. The weight gain of composites increased 2-fold from 15.8 ± 0.3 to 38.3 ± 0.7 (w/w) % by increasing the elastin concentration from 25mg/ml to 50mg/ml and approached a plateau above this concentration. The presence of elastin within the pores of PCL improved the water uptake properties of PCL scaffolds; the water uptake ratio of PCL was enhanced 100-fold from 0.030 ± 0.005g liquid/g polymer to 11.80 ± 0.01g liquid/g polymer, when the elastin solution concentration was 50mg/ml. These composites exhibited lower compressive modulus and energy loss compared to pure PCL scaffolds due to their higher water content and elasticity. In vitro studies show that these composites can support primary articular cartilage chondrocyte adhesion and proliferation within the 3D structures. These results demonstrate the potential of using PCL/elastin composites for cartilage repair.
School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Nasim
N
Annabi
Ali
A
Fathi
Suzanne M
SM
Mithieux
Penny
P
Martens
Anthony S
AS
Weiss
Fariba
F
Dehghani
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D004549:Elastin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012756:Sheep; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; C016240:polycaprolactone; D004549:Elastin