Effects of Surface Topography, Hydrophilicity and Chemistry of Surface-treated PCL Scaffolds on Chondrocyte Infiltration and ECM Production

AbstractThe interaction of chondrocytes with two surface-treated polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds was examined. The surface treatments of PCL scaffolds were performed by alkaline hydrolysis and followed by oxygen plasma treatment. The hydrolysis of PCL was conducted either prior to scaffold fabrication, yielding pre-hydrolyzed PCL, or after scaffold fabrication, yielding post-hydrolyzed PCL. Both hydrolyzed scaffolds were subsequently subjected to plasma treatment. The resulting scaffolds were denoted as plasma-treated pre-HPCL and plasma-treated post-HPCL scaffolds, respectively. The surface morphology, wettability and chemical composition of the surface-treated scaffolds were investigated. The histological results revealed that the chondrocytes infiltrated more thoroughly inside the plasma-treated pre-HPCL scaffold

Antibacterial Wound Healing Gels from Oligochitosan Salts

Oligochitosan salt-based antibacterial wound gels were developed and evaluated in both in vitro and in vivo models. The antibacterial activities of the oligochitosan salts and the wound gels were investigated against Staphylococcus epidermidis RP625 and Escherichia coli ATCC 11775. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the oligochitosan salts were found in the range of 16-256 μg/mL. The wound gels demonstrated their in vitro activities on inhibiting the growth of bacteria. The 3-D collagen gel matrix containing human dermal fibroblasts cultured with each test gel was used as an in vitro model for the examination of cell proliferation and secretion of interleukin-8 (IL-8). The gels appeared to promote the proliferation and formation of cellular process of the fibroblasts in the 3-D collagen gels and stimulate the fibroblasts to produce more IL-8. In the in vivo model, it was noted that the gels could accelerate the wound closure process. The wounds were completely closed within 14 days.</jats:p