Development and characterisation of cytocompatible polyester substrates with tunable mechanical properties and degradation rate

Although it has been repeatedly indicated the importance to develop implantable devices and cell culture substrates with tissue-specific rigidity, current commercially available products, in particular substrates, have rigidity values well above most tissues body. Herein, six resorbable polyester films were fabricated using compression moulding a thermal presser into tailored stiffness by appropriately selecting ratio of their building up monomers (e.g. lactide, glycolide, trimethylene carbonate, dioxanone, ε-caprolactone). Typical NMR FTIR spectra obtained, suggesting that fabrication process did not negative effect on conformation polymers. Surface roughness analysis revealed no apparent differences between as function polymer composition. Subject composition, polymeric obtained glass transition temperatures from -52 °C 61 °C; contact angles water 81 ° 94 °; storage modulus 108 MPa 2,756 loss 8 507 (both wet state, at 1 Hz frequency 37 °C); ultimate tensile strength 62 MPa, toughness 23 MJ/m3 287 MJ/m3, strain break 3 % 278 %, macro-scale Young's 110 2,184 (all state); nano-scale 6 kPa 15,019 (in state). With respect vitro degradation phosphate buffered saline °C, some [e.g. poly(glycolide-lactide) 30 / 70] started degrading day 7 (shortest timepoint assessed), whilst others poly(glycolide-co-ε-caprolactone) 10 90] more resilient 21 (longest assessed). In biological human dermal fibroblasts monocyte line (THP-1) showed potential support growth controlled immune response. Evidently, selected polymers exhibited properties suitable for range clinical indications.