Biopolyesters in Tissue Engineering Applications - Advances in Polymer Science - page 12

Fig. 6 Scanning electron microscopy images of L929 mouse fibroblast attachment to
a P3HB films, and b P3HB films plasticized with 30% BTHC after 5 days of culture [72].
P3HB/BTHC films show limited cell adhesion, and cells exhibit a spherical, nonviable
morphology. The low cell viability of these films was confirmed by the quantitative analy-
sis (see Fig. 6). Scale bar 20 µ m. c L929 mouse fibroblast attachment to P3HB fibers after
9 days of culture [72]. Scale bar 200 µ m

tact angle) such as carboxyl ion implantation [110] or oxygen plasma treat-
ment [111]. Introduction of oxygen-based functionalities on the surface of
P3HB-15%3HV films, either by corona-discharge treatment or treatment with
a mixture of perchloric acid and potassium chlorate, resulted in decreasing
water contact angles and increasing mouse NIH 3T3 fibroblasts adhesion and
proliferation [112]. A limited adherence of L929 mouse fibroblasts on unmod-
ified P3HB films has been reported in another study. However, a strong im-
provement of cell adherence and growth could be observed on UV-irradiated
films and after fibronectin coating [113], as well as after surface modification
by ammonia plasma treatment [114].
Low viability of L929 fibroblasts on unmodified P3HB films, but strongly
improved viabilities after surface hydrolysis using lipases or alkaline solu-
tion, have been reported [89, 115, 116]. In experiments with P3HB porous
scaffolds, an increasing growth of L929 cells could be observed after surface
treatment with lipase but a decreasing cell growth was found after coating
with hyaluronic acid despite significantly decreased water contact angles. It