Preparation of bow tie–type methacrylated poly(caprolactone‐co‐lactic acid) scaffolds: effect of collagen modification on cell growth

A branched methacrylated poly(caprolactone‐co‐lactic acid) and methacrylated poly(tetramethylene ether glycol) (PTMG‐IEM) resins were synthesized. ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR) spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography confirmed the chemical structures of copolymers. The photoinitiated polymerization of formulation composed of various amounts of methacrylated poly(caprolactone‐co‐lactic acid), PTMG‐IEM, poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate, water, and photoinitiator were performed. The curing reactions were followed by photo‐DSC (Differential scanning calorimetry). Gel fraction was calculated from the insoluble part and found as ≥93%. Swelling and contact angles were measured, and all increased with the increasing amount of PTMG‐IEM in network formulations. In vitro degradation studies were performed at 37 °C in phosphate‐buffered saline (pH 7.4). Collagen‐modified polymers were also prepared and introduced as a bioactive moiety to modify the polymer to enhance cell affinity. To compare the cell adhesion affinity to the polymer with and without collagen, cell growth experiments were performed. The results showed that collagen improves the cell adhesion onto the polymer surface. With the increasing amount of collagen, cell viability increases 86% (ECV304, p < 0.05) and 83% (3 T3, p < 0.05). Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.