title: PLLA/ZnO nanocomposites: Dynamic surfaces to harness cell differentiation.
abstract: This work investigates the effect of the sequential availability of ZnO nanoparticles, (nanorods of ∼40nm) loaded within a degradable poly(lactic acid) (PLLA) matrix, in cell differentiation. The system constitutes a dynamic surface, in which nanoparticles are exposed as the polymer matrix degrades. ZnO nanoparticles were loaded into PLLA and the system was measured at different time points to characterise the time evolution of the physicochemical properties, including wettability and thermal properties. The micro and nanostructure were also investigated using AFM, SEM and TEM images. Cellular experiments with C2C12 myoblasts show that cell differentiation was significantly enhanced on ZnO nanoparticles-loaded PLLA, as the polymer degrades and the availability of nanoparticles become more apparent, whereas the release of zinc within the culture medium was negligible. Our results suggest PLLA/ZnO nanocomposites can be used as a dynamic system where nanoparticles are exposed during degradation, activating the material surface and driving cell differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow G12 8LT, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trujillo
authors.affiliation: Macromolecular Chemistry Research Group, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Spain.
authors.forename: Erlantz
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lizundia
authors.affiliation: Macromolecular Chemistry Research Group, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Spain; Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures (BCMaterials), Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Ed. 500, Derio 48160, Spain.
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Vilas
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow G12 8LT, Glasgow, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Manuel.Salmeron-Sanchez@glasgow.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salmeron-Sanchez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D022001:Focal Adhesions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D051379:Mice; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011091:Polyesters / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013499:Surface Properties; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; C033616:poly(lactide); D015034:Zinc Oxide
keywords: C2C12 myoblast; Cell differentiation; Nanocomposite; PLLA; ZnO nanoparticle