title: β-Phase poly(vinylidene fluoride) films encouraged more homogeneous cell distribution and more significant deposition of fibronectin towards the cell-material interface compared to α-phase poly(vinylidene fluoride) films.
abstract: The piezoelectric response from β-phase poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) can potentially be exploited for biomedical application. We hypothesized that α and β-phase PVDF exert direct but different influence on cellular behavior. α- and β-phase PVDF films were synthesized through solution casting and characterized with FT-IR, XRD, AFM and PFM to ensure successful fabrication of α and β-phase PVDF films. Cellular evaluation with L929 mouse fibroblasts over one-week was conducted with AlamarBlue® metabolic assay and PicoGreen® proliferation assay. Immunostaining of fibronectin investigated the extent and distribution of extracellular matrix deposition. Image saliency analysis quantified differences in cellular distribution on the PVDF films. Our results showed that β-phase PVDF films with the largest area expressing piezoelectric effect elicited highest cell metabolic activity at day 3 of culture. Increased fibronectin adsorption towards the cell-material interface was shown on β-phase PVDF films. Image saliency analysis showed that fibroblasts on β-phase PVDF films were more homogeneously distributed than on α-phase PVDF films. Taken collectively, the different molecular packing of α and β-phase PVDF resulted in differing physical properties of films, which in turn induced differences in cellular behaviors. Further analysis of how α and β-phase PVDF may evoke specific cellular behavior to suit particular application will be intriguing.
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, N4.1 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore.
authors.forename: Y K A
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Low
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: F Y C
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Boey
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D044367:Phase Transition / Q000187:drug effects*; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005353:Fibronectins; D011145:Polyvinyls; D014867:Water; C024865:polyvinylidene fluoride; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers
keywords: Biomaterial; Cell–material interaction; Poly(vinylidene fluoride); Polymorphism