Patterning of a Random Copolymer of Poly[lactide-co-glycotide-co-(ε-caprolactone)] by UV Embossing for Tissue Engineering

• Published in: Macromolecular bioscience 2006-01, Vol.6 (1), p.51-57
• Main Authors: Zhu, Aiping, Chen, Rongqing, Chan-Park, Mary B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Caproates - chemistry; diacrylated poly[lactide-co-glycotide-co-(ε-caprolactone)]; Ethylene Glycols; Exact sciences and technology; Lactic Acid - chemistry; Lactones - chemistry; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Materials Testing; Medical sciences; Microchemistry - methods; micropatterned films; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - chemistry; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - cytology; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - ultrastructure; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polyglycolic Acid - chemistry; Polymers - chemistry; Polymers with particular properties; Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts; smooth muscle cells; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments; tissue engineering; Tissue Engineering - methods; Ultraviolet Rays
• ISSN: 1616-5187; 1616-5195
• DOI: 10.1002/mabi.200500168

The random copolymer, poly[lactide‐co‐glycotide‐co‐(ε‐caprolactone)] (PLGACL) diacrylate was prepared by ring‐opening polymerization of L‐lactide, glycolide, and ε‐caprolactone initiated with tetra(ethylene glycol). The diacrylated polymers were extensively characterized. With a UV embossing method, these copolymers were successfully fabricated into microchannels separated by microwalls with a high aspect (height/width) ratio. The PLGACL network films showed good cytocompatibility. Varieties of microstructures were fabricated, such as 10 × 40 × 60, 10 × 80 × 60, 25 × 40 × 60, or 25 × 80 × 60 µm3 structures (microwall width × microchannel width × microwall height). The results demonstrated that smooth muscle cells (SMCs) can grow not only on the microchannel surfaces but also on the surfaces of the microwall and sidewall. The SMCs aligned along the 25 µm wide microwall with an elongated morphology and proliferated very slowly in comparison to those on the smooth surface with a longer cell‐culture term. Few cells could attach and spread on the surface of the 40 µm wide microchannel, while the cells flourished on the 80 µm, or more than 80 µm, wide microchannel with a spindle morphology. The biophysical mechanism mediated by the micropattern geometry is discussed. Overall, the present micropattern, consisting of biodegradable and cytocompatible PLGACL, provides a promising scaffold for tissue engineering.