Surface Modification of 3D-Poly(glycerol-sebacate)/ Poly(L-lactic-acid) Porous Scaffolds by Oxygen Plasma Enhances Proliferation and Differentiation of Goat Temporomandibular Joint Disc Cells

Abstract

3D poly(glycerol-sebacate)/poly(L-lactic-acid) (PGS/PLLA) scaffolds, produced by thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) method were treated with oxygen plasma in order to reduce the hydrophobicity of the PGS/PLLA membranes. After the oxygen plasma treatment, the pore size of scaffolds became uniform as well as an increasing in the roughness of the surface. No influence on chemical characteristics such as composition and bond types of PLLA was detected after the treatment. However, the change in the ratio of the scaffold elements before and after the oxygen plasma treatment was detected. Oxygen plasma treatment reduced the average of water contact angle of the TIPS film from 103.7± 10.1 to 64.7± 12.6 at the maximum exposure time (970 s) and power (100 W). The results showed that the goat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) cells attached well to the surface of the oxygen plasma modified scaffold. Furthermore, this modification significantly enhanced cell viability, increased cell proliferation and expression of related genes (Collagen type I mRNA and Collagen type II mRNA). The results demonstrated that it is a promising modification method to promote applications of PGS/PLLA based scaffolds to the regeneration of TMJ discs.