Cyto- and bio-compatibility assessment of plasma-treated polyvinylidene fluoride scaffolds for cardiac tissue engineering

Abstract

As part of applications dealing with cardiovascular tissue engineering, drop-cast polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) scaffolds have been treated by cold plasma to enhance their adherence to cardiac cells. The scaffolds were treated in a dielectric barrier device where cold plasma was generated in a gaseous environment combining a carrier gas (helium or argon) with/without a reactive gas (molecular nitrogen). We show that an Ar-N2 plasma treatment of 10 min results in significant hydrophilization of the scaffolds, with contact angles as low as 52.4° instead of 132.2° for native PVDF scaffolds. Correlation between optical emission spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that OH radicals from the plasma phase can functionalize the surface scaffolds, resulting in improved wettability. For all plasma-treated PVDF scaffolds, the adhesion and maturation of primary cardiomyocytes is increased, showing a well-organized sarcomeric structure (α-actinin immunostaining). The efficacy of plasma treatment was also supported by real-time PCR analysis to demonstrate an increased expression of the genes related to adhesion and cardiomyocyte function. Finally, the biocompatibility of the PVDF scaffolds was studied in a cardiac environment, after implantation of acellular scaffolds on the surface of the heart of healthy mice. Seven and 28 days after implantation, no exuberant fibrosis and no multinucleated giant cells were visible in the grafted area, hence demonstrating the absence of foreign body reaction and the biocompatibility of these scaffolds.

Scaffold-Based Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride) and Its Copolymers: Materials, Fabrication Methods, Applications, and Perspectives

“…In addition, the aligned piezoelectric nanofiber promoted the expression of cTn-T and connexin, which indicated more intracellular electrical communication and contractile behavior. In another study, cold plasma treatment improved the adhesion and maturation of primary myocardial cells, and increased gene expression related to adhesion and myocardial cell functions . This was because the water contact angle decreased from 132.2° to 52.4°.…”

“…In another study, cold plasma treatment improved the adhesion and maturation of primary myocardial cells, and increased gene expression related to adhesion and myocardial cell functions. 131 This was because the water contact angle decreased from 132.2°to 52.4°. The contraction of myocardial tissue causes PVDF nanofibers to deform and generate measurable voltage, inducing humaninduced pluripotent stem cells to differentiate into myocardial cells to form the arranged functional heart tissue.…”

The application of impantable sensors in the musculoskeletal system: a review

“…PVDF is a thermoplastic semi-crystalline polymer which, in more of being cheap and easy-to-process, exhibits attractive electroactive properties ( Song et al, 2022a ; Li et al, 2022 ; Yuan et al, 2022 ). PVDF scaffolds for tissue engineering were proven to have good biocompatibility ( Kitsara et al, 2022 ). Their piezoelectric properties make them valuable components in acoustic sensors.…”

Smart and Multifunctional Materials Based on Electroactive Poly(vinylidene fluoride): Recent Advances and Opportunities in Sensors, Actuators, Energy, Environmental, and Biomedical Applications

“…699 Poly(VDF-co-TrFE) was also combined with ILs as novel and promising platform for cardiac tissue engineering. 701 Drop-cast PVDF scaffolds have been also developed and treated by cold plasma for cardiac tissue engineering 702 in vitro and in vivo assays. In the in vitro assays, newborn rat primary cardiomyocytes were used and a higher cell adhesion, a wellorganized sarcomeric structure and also higher gene expression related to adhesion and cardiac function were observed in the plasma-treated drop-cast PVDF scaffolds.…”