Optimal hydrophilization and chondrocyte adhesion of PLLA films and scaffolds by plasma treatment and acrylic acid grafting

Abstract

To utilize as highly functional scaffolds for tissue engineering by improving hydrophobicity and cell compatibility of the exist polymer scaffolds, the biodegradable poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) films and scaffolds having the optimal hydrophilicity were prepared by in situ plasma treatment and grafting of a carboxyl acid-containing monomer, acrylic acid (AA) in the chamber. From the results of surface analyses, surface-modified nonporous PLLA film and dual pore scaffold surfaces showed high hydrophilicity due to the decrease in contact angle and the increase in carboxylic groups as compared with untreated PLLA control. In particular, among various surface modification methods, A(argon)+AA+AA sample prepared by At plasma and then acrylic acid treatments displayed lower contact angle and more carboxylic groups that Ar/AA and Ar+TP(thermal polymerization) samples, indicating that Ar+AA+AA sample was optimally treated for improving its hydrophilicity. In the cases of surface-modified nonporous PLLA films and dual pore scaffolds, the adhesion and proliferation of chondrocytes increased with increasing their hydrophilicity.