Electrospun scaffolds of a polyhydroxyalkanoate consisting of omega-hydroxylpentadecanoate repeat units: fabrication and in vitro biocompatibility studies

Electrospinning was used to fabricate fibrous scaffolds of lipase-catalyzed poly(omega-pentadecalactone) (PPDL). The slow resorbability of this biomaterial is expected to be valuable for tissue-engineering applications requiring long healing times. The effect of solvent systems and instrumental parameters on fiber morphology was investigated. PPDL electrospinning was optimized and defect-free fibers (diameter 410 +/- 150 nm) were obtained by using a mixed three-solvent system. Scaffolds were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXS). TGA showed no residual solvent in the scaffolds. DSC and WAXS results indicated that electrospun PPDL is semicrystalline. Biocompatibility of PPDL scaffolds was evaluated through indirect cytotoxicity tests using embryonic rat cardiac H9c2 cells. The ability of PPDL electrospun mats to support cell growth was verified by culturing H9c2 cells onto the scaffold. Cell adhesion, proliferation and morphology were evaluated. The results indicated that PPDL mats are not cytotoxic and they support proliferation of H9c2 cells. The cumulative results of this study suggest further exploration of PPDL fibrous mats as scaffolds for tissue-engineered constructs.