Design of Functional Electrospun Scaffolds Based on Poly(glycerol sebacate) Elastomer and Poly(lactic acid) for Cardiac Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Many works focus on the use of polyesters like poly(lactic acid) (PLA) to produce nanofibrous scaffolds for cardiac tissue engineering. However, such scaffolds are hydrophobic and difficult to functionalize. Here, we show that adding 30% of poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) elastomer within PLA leads to PLA:PGS scaffolds with improved biological properties, depending on the processing parameters. Two categories of fibers were produced by blend electrospinning, with diameters of 600 and 1300 nm. The resulting fibers were cured at 90°C or 120°C in order to achieve two different crosslinking densities. The designed scaffolds were considered for cytocompatibility, biocompatibility, biodegradability, chemical and mechanical properties. Our results demonstrated that the presence of PGS increases the hydrophilicity of the material and thus improves surface functionalization by Matrigel and laminin coating, a commonly used cell culture matrix. PLA:PGS scaffolds associated with Matrigel and laminin allow an increased material-cell interaction. Moreover, the cardiomyocytes seeded on such scaffolds acquire a morphology similar to that observed in native tissue, this result being more remarkable on fibers having the smallest diameter and the highest PGS crosslinking density. In addition, these scaffolds induce neovascularization without inflammatory response and foreign body giant cell response after grafting on mice's heart. Hence, the improved biocompatibility and the ability to support cardiomyocytes development suggest that thin PLA:PGS scaffolds could be promising biomaterials for cardiac application.

Effects of physicochemical properties of polyacrylamide (PAA) and (polydimethylsiloxane) PDMS on cardiac cell behavior

“…Although there have been barriers such as hydrophobicity and functionalization problems but by combining it with other biomaterials such as poly(glycerol sebacate) these barriers are partially resolved. 155 As a biodegradable and biocompatible polyester polyglycolic acid has been approved by the FDA for use in biodegradable structures. Although its use has always been considered in cardiac tissue engineering, the hydrophobicity of its surface has limited cell attachment and cell migration.…”

Mechanical Considerations of Electrospun Scaffolds for Myocardial Tissue and Regenerative Engineering

“…Third, modification or treatment of the scaffolds with functional agents (e.g., biomolecules) within or on the fiber surface can improve biological properties. These properties may support cell homing, proliferation, function, differentiation, or survival [ 27 , 67 , 68 , 69 ]. For example, matrigel and laminin coatings have been used on electrospun scaffolds to promote cardiomyocyte attachment, morphology, and sarcomere organization [ 69 ].…”

Elaboration and mechanical properties of elastomeric fibrous scaffolds based on crosslinked poly(glycerol sebacate) and cyclodextrin for soft tissue engineering

“…Electrospinning of pPGS blended with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) was also carried out for heart tissue engineering applications. 18,19 However, although these scaffolds achieved excellent biological properties, PLA was not removed and the overall mechanical properties were not elastomeric. As a matter of fact, the chosen carrier polymer should have a glass transition temperature (T g ) or melting temperature (T m ) higher than the curing temperature in order to keep the fibers shape and prevent the low-viscous melted pPGS to leak out of the fibers during crosslinking.…”