Cells integration onto scaffolds prepared from polyester based polymers – importance of polymer thermal properties in addition to hydrophilicity

Three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds represent valuable tools for biological studies and tissue engineering applications. They offer better biological environment that better mimic 3 D dynamic in vivo conditions compared with conventional bidimentional (2D) cell culture systems. The integration of cells within the scaffolds is, however, dependent on their properties. In the present study, porous scaffolds were prepared from poly lactide (PLA), poly lactide polyethylene glycol copolymer (PLA-PEG) and poly lactide-co-glycolide – polyethylene glycol copolymer (PLGA-PEG) using porogen leaching method with NaCl particles as porogen. The three scaffolds were prepared with identical conditions (concentration, dimensions, porogen weight fraction and particle size) in order to evaluate the impact of polymer composition and properties on scaffold characteristics (internal architecture and pores distribution), as well as fibroblasts integration and proliferation within the scaffold 3 D network. The impact of hydrophilicity, water uptake and protein adsorption are discussed. The data shows that amorphous polymers, which have glass transition temperature close to cell culture temperature, may be advantageous for scaffold construction and cell integration. This fact needs to be considered when interpreting data of cell interaction with scaffolds obtained using amorphous polymers developed for 3 D cell culture and tissue engineering applications.