Cell response to round and star-shaped polylactide fibers

The surface topography of tissue engineering biomaterials is known to affect cell behavior. Polymer fibers can be processed into a variety of diameters and shapes, which both affect the orientation and organization of cells. The fibers can be used to manufacture tissue engineering scaffolds. The aim of this work was to study cell response to microfibers with round and star-shaped cross-sections. In addition, the retention of fiber properties during hydrolytic degradation was evaluated.

Melt spinning method was used to process poly-L/D-lactide 96/4 (PLDLA 96/4) fibers. Knitted scaffolds were manufactured from the fibers for the cell culture experiment. A hydrolytic degradation experiment was conducted for the fibers to evaluate retention of mechanical properties and changes in crystallinity and thermal properties. Human urothelial cells (hUCs) and human foreskin fibroblasts (hFFs) were used in the cell culture experiment. Cell response was assessed using live/dead analysis and crystal violet staining.

Both fibers had suitable mechanical properties to be processed into knitted scaffolds. The hydrolytic degradation experiment demonstrated good retention of properties for the fibers. The number of cells attached to the fibers increased throughout the experiment. The hFFs oriented to the fiber direction on both fibers. The cell culture experiment demonstrated good biocompatibility and no observable difference in cell response was seen between the fiber types.