Thoroughly Hydrophilized Electrospun Poly(L-Lactide)/Poly(epsilon-Caprolactone) Sponges for Tissue Engineering Application

Biodegradable electrospun sponges are of interest for various applications including tissue engineering, drug release, dental therapy, plant protection, and plant fertilization. Biodegradable electrospun poly(l-lactide)/poly(& epsilon;-caprolactone) (PLLA/PCL) blend fiber-based sponge with hierarchical pore structure is inherently hydrophobic, which is disadvantageous for application in tissue engineering, fertilization, and drug delivery. Contact angles and model studies for staining with a hydrophilic dye for untreated, plasma-treated, and surfactant-treated PLLA/PCL sponges are reported. Thorough hydrophilization of PLLA/PCL sponges is found only with surfactant-treated sponges. The MTT assay on the leachates from the sponges does not indicate any cell incompatibility. Furthermore, the cell proliferation and penetration of the hydrophilized sponges are verified by in vitro cell culture studies using MG63 and human fibroblast cells.

Automated summary

Biodegradable electrospun sponges have various applications, but hydrophobicity limits their use. This study investigated surfactant treatment as a means to enhance the hydrophilicity of a PLLA/PCL sponge. Results showed that surfactant-treated sponges achieved thorough hydrophilization, enabling cell proliferation and penetration. Furthermore, leachates from the sponges did not exhibit any cell incompatibility.