Surface functionalized PLLA for scaffold preparation

Biocompatible and degradable poly(alpha-hydroxy acids) are among the more widely used materials in scaffolds for tissue engineering, although they often need surface modification to improve their interaction with the cells. In the present research Poly(L-lactide) 3D scaffold were prepared by salt-leaching method, with a porosity of 80 % and interconnected pores. In order to increase the hydrophilicity of the PLLA scaffolds surface, taurine was grafted through aminolysis reaction. The reaction enriched the surface with sulfonate groups increasing PLLA hydrophilicity and electrostatic interaction with collagen. In vitro biological tests with chondrocytes or fibroblasts showed that taurine grafting and collagen absorption improved cell viability and adhesion compared to the unmodified scaffold, suggesting that these modifications make PLLA substrate suitable for cartilage repair.