The effect of surface functional groups on endothelial cells proliferation and functionality

Sonia Abbasi ravasjani,1 Ghassem amoabediny,2,* Amir esmaeili,3 Reza nahavandi,4 Mohammadreza safari hajat aghaei,5 Farideh hajiani,6

1. Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2. School of chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
3. School of chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
4. School of chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
5. Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
6. Faculty of Applied Arts, Textile and Clothing Design, University of Art, Tehran, iran

Abstract


Introduction

Polycaprolactone (pcl) is nowadays frequently used in various medical applications including tissue engineering scaffolds, wound dressings, and drug delivery systems. however, it is hydrophobic and has low bioactive properties resulting in low initial cell attachment and proliferation. to attain hydrophilic properties functional groups can be created on its surface. various surface modifications are used to create reactive sites such as amine and carboxylic groups on the pcl surface to increase its hydrophilicity, cellular attachment and proliferation.

Methods

In this work, tubular pcl scaffolds were made by electrospinning method. amine and carboxylic groups were created on its surface by aminolysis of the ester group with 1, 6-diaminohexane solution (10 wt%, 1h, 37℃) and hydrolysis with sodium hydroxide solution (3m, 30min). human umbilical vein endothelial cells were seeded on the luminal surface of the unmodified and modified scaffolds and cultured up to 7 days. endothelial cells proliferation was assessed by the alamar blue assay. to visualize the collagenous ecm secreted by cells, the scaffolds were stained with picro sirius red.

Results

Cellular proliferation was significantly higher on the naoh treated scaffolds compared to other groups. results of picro sirius red staining showed more extracellular matrix production on the naoh treated scaffolds compared to other groups.

Conclusion

In conclusions surface modification of electrospun pcl scaffolds by introducing functional groups can enhance endothelial cell attachment and ecm production with maximum stimulation by naoh treatment.

Keywords

Amine groups, carboxylic groups, electrospun pcl, huvecs