Photo-crosslinked chitosan-gelatin xerogel-like coating onto “cold” plasma functionalized poly(lactic acid) film as cell culture support

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers Vol. 339; p. 122288
• Main Authors: Brebu, Mihai, Pamfil, Daniela, Stoica, Iuliana, Aflori, Magdalena, Voicu, Geanina, Stoleru, Elena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2024
• Subjects: Aminopolysaccharide; Cell culture support; Chitosan - chemistry; Coated Materials, Biocompatible - chemistry; Cold plasma; Cross-Linking Reagents - chemistry; Dip-coating; Fibroblasts - cytology; Fibroblasts - drug effects; Gelatin - chemistry; Gels - chemistry; Humans; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Plasma Gases - chemistry; Polyesters - chemistry; Porous surface; Surface Properties; Ultraviolet Rays; Wettability; Cold plasma; Cell culture support; Aminopolysaccharide; Dip-coating; Porous surface
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122288

This paper reports on biofunctionalisation of a poly(lactic acid) (PLA) film by surface activation through cold plasma treatment followed by coating with a chitosan-gelatin xerogel. The UV cross-linking of the xerogel precursor was simultaneously performed with the fixation onto the PLA support. This has a strong effect on surface properties, in terms of wettability, surface free energy, morphology and micromechanical features. The hydrophilic – hydrophobic character of the surface, determined by contact angle measurements, was tuned along the process, passing from moderate hydrophobic PLA to enhanced hydrophilic plasma activated surface, which favors coating adhesion, then to moderate hydrophobic chitosan-gelatin coating. The coating has a Lewis amphoteric surface, with a porous xerogel-like morphology, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy images. By riboflavin mediated UV cross-linking the chitosan-gelatin coating becomes high adhesive and with a more pronounced plasticity, as shown by AFM force-distance spectroscopy. Thus prepared surface-coated PLA supports were successfully tested for growth of dermal fibroblasts, which are known for their induction potential of chondrogenic cells, which is very important in cartilage tissue engineering. [Display omitted]