Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
Three dimensional scaffolds (3D) are promising for future nanoscale materials and tissue engineering applications being that they have architecture and mechanical properties similar to natural tissue. In this work, poly(lactic acid) fibers were prepared via electrospinnig with average diameters of 2580 nm. Using Enzymatic Surface-Initiated polymerization (ESIP), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) were coated on poly(lactic acid) fibers. This provides an alternative method to enzymatic surface modification of fibers. ESIP of PHB produces a granular film providing surface topography and increases mechanical properties of PLA fibers alone. When using covalent approaches, PHB granules provide surface topography of 200-500 nm with a polydisperse coverage area. Compressive modulus measurements of PLA and PHB/PLA scaffolds were 25 kPa and 73 kPa, respectively. The percent crystallinity of PLA and PHB/PLA scaffolds was 17% and 30%, respectively. This rough topography, in addition to the crystallinity of the scaffold, facilitates Soas-2 osteoblast cell attachment. We have observed attachment of the osteoblast cells along the length of the oriented PLA and PHB/PLA composite scaffolds with different morphologies, rounded and stretched, throughout a depth of 90 µm.