Abstract
Hybrid organometallic polymers are a class of functional materials which can be used to produce structures with sub-micron features via laser two-photon polymerisation. Previous studies demonstrated the relative biocompatibility of Al and Zr containing hybrid organometallic polymers in vitro. However, a deeper understanding of their effects on intracellular processes is needed if a tissue engineering strategy based on these materials is to be envisioned. Herein, primary rat myogenic cells were cultured on spin-coated Al and Zr containing polymer surfaces to investigate how each material affects the viability, adhesion strength, adhesion-associated protein expression, rate of cellular metabolism and collagen secretion. We found that the investigated surfaces supported cellular growth to full confluency. A subsequent MTT assay showed that glass and Zr surfaces led to higher rates of metabolism than did the Al surfaces. A viability assay revealed that all surfaces supported comparable levels of cell viability. Cellular adhesion strength assessment showed an insignificantly stronger relative adhesion after 4 h of culture than after 24 h. The largest amount of collagen was secreted by cells grown on the Al-containing surface. In conclusion, the materials were found to be biocompatible in vitro and have potential for bioengineering applications.
Highlights
The concept of growing human replacement parts in the lab has been around for several decades [1,2]
This study provides a direct comparison between two materials that can be structured for laser two-photon polymerisation, assessing their support of primary rat myogenic cell growth
The results show promise for tissue engineering applications, because they show a significant increase in the collagen produced in the cells grown on these surfaces
Summary
The concept of growing human replacement parts in the lab has been around for several decades [1,2]. Laser two-photon polymerisation (LTPP) is a 3D fabrication technique capable of producing materials with fine details in their structures at sub-micron resolutions [5,6]. Various materials can be used to make 3D structures using this technique including derivatives of natural polymers. Compared to other fabrication techniques like stereo-lithography [13], fused deposition modelling [14,15] and selective laser sintering [16], LTPP is the only technique that allows for resolutions below the diffraction limit of light to be fabricated [17]. LTPP allows for fine-tuning of structural motifs as opposed to randomised porous structures obtained by other means, like template-casting [18] or particulate-leaching [19]. Materials based on Al [21], Ge [22], Ti [23], V [24] and
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