A composite membrane with microtopographical morphology to regulate cellular behavior for improved tissue regeneration

Tissue engineering scaffolds with specific surface topographical morphologies can regulate cellular behav-iors and promote tissue repair. In this study, poly lactic(co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)/wool keratin composite guided tissue regeneration (GTR) membranes with three types of microtopographies (three groups each of pits, grooves and columns, thus nine groups in total) were prepared. Then, the effects of the nine groups of membranes on cell adhesion, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation were examined. The nine different membranes had clear, regular and uniform surface topographical morphologies. The 2 pm pit-structured membrane had the best effect on promoting the proliferation of bone marrow mesenchy-mal stem cells (BMSCs) and periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs), while the 10 pm groove-structured membrane was the best for inducing osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs and PDLSCs. Then, we investi-gated the ectopic osteogenic, guided bone tissue regeneration and guided periodontal tissue regeneration effects of the 10 pm groove-structured membrane combined with cells or cell sheets. The 10 pm groove -structured membrane/cell complex had good compatibility and certain ectopic osteogenic effects, and the 10 pm groove-structured membrane/cell sheet complex promoted better bone repair and regeneration and periodontal tissue regeneration. Thus, the 10 pm groove-structured membrane shows potential to treat bone defects and periodontal disease.Statement of significancePLGA/wool keratin composite GTR membranes with microcolumn, micropit and microgroove topographi-cal morphologies were prepared by dry etching technology and the solvent casting method. The composite GTR membranes had different effects on cell behavior.The 2 pm pit-structured mem-brane had the best effect on promoting the proliferation of rabbit BMSCs and PDLSCs and the 10 pm groove-structured membrane was the best for inducing the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs and PDLSCs.The combined application of a 10 pm groove-structured membrane and PDLSC sheet can promote better bone repair and regeneration as well as periodontal tissue regeneration. Our findings may have significant potential for guiding the design of future GTR membranes with topographical morphologies and clinical applications of the groove-structured membrane/cell sheet com-plex.& COPY; 2023 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, PLGA/wool keratin composite GTR membranes with specific surface topographical morphologies were prepared and their effects on cellular behaviors were examined. The 2 pm pit-structured membrane showed the best promotion of cell proliferation, while the 10 pm groove-structured membrane was the most effective in inducing osteogenic differentiation. Furthermore, the combination of the 10 pm groove-structured membrane and cell sheet demonstrated improved bone and periodontal tissue regeneration.