Montalbano G, Barberi J, Mas A Benedetto, Tung T, Melo P, Dalgarno K, Silva E D, Gomes R N, Nascimento D S, Fiorilli S, Vitale-Brovarone C
Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca Degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy.
Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca Degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy.
Biomater Adv. 2026 Feb;179:214488. doi: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2025.214488. Epub 2025 Sep 2.
Tailoring surface characteristics is key to guiding scaffold interaction with the biological environment, promoting successful biointegration while minimizing immune responses and inflammation. In cardiac tissue engineering, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is a material of choice for its intrinsic piezoelectric properties, which can be enhanced through electrospinning, also enabling the fabrication of nanofibrous structures mimicking native tissue. However, the inherent hydrophobicity of PVDF can hinder its integration with biological tissues. To overcome this limitation, electrospun PVDF patches were subjected to radio-frequency low-pressure O plasma treatment to enhance surface hydrophilicity and overall biocompatibility. A systematic experimental study identified optimal parameters, revealing that higher gas content and prolonged exposure are preferable to high power levels, which deteriorate the patch's morphological and mechanical properties. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the formation of oxygen-containing surface groups, resulting in the patch's superhydrophilicity. Preservation of the fibrous nanostructure and electroactive phase content was verified using scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy combined with differential scanning calorimetry, respectively. The optimized plasma treatment maintained the patch's elasticity and demonstrated long-term stability for up to 3 months. In vitro biocompatibility was assessed through indirect and direct tests using AC16 human cardiomyocytes and neonatal human dermal fibroblasts, revealing good cell viability, adhesion, and spreading over 7-days. Finally, plasma-treated patches demonstrated strong adhesion to the myocardial tissue and exhibited markedly reduced inflammatory response compared to the untreated controls, as shown by decreased CD45 immune cell infiltration around the patch implanted in infarcted mice, highlighting the surface treatment's effectiveness in enhancing in vivo biocompatibility.
调整表面特性是引导支架与生物环境相互作用、促进成功生物整合同时将免疫反应和炎症降至最低的关键。在心脏组织工程中，聚偏二氟乙烯（PVDF）因其固有的压电特性而成为一种首选材料，这种特性可通过静电纺丝得到增强，还能制造出模仿天然组织的纳米纤维结构。然而，PVDF固有的疏水性会阻碍其与生物组织的整合。为克服这一限制，对静电纺丝的PVDF贴片进行了射频低压氧等离子体处理，以提高表面亲水性和整体生物相容性。一项系统的实验研究确定了最佳参数，结果表明，较高的气体含量和较长的暴露时间比较高的功率水平更可取，因为高功率水平会使贴片的形态和机械性能变差。X射线光电子能谱证实了含氧化合物表面基团的形成，从而使贴片具有超亲水性。分别使用扫描电子显微镜和结合差示扫描量热法的红外光谱对纤维纳米结构和电活性相含量的保留情况进行了验证。优化后的等离子体处理保持了贴片的弹性，并在长达3个月的时间内表现出长期稳定性。通过使用AC16人心肌细胞和新生儿人皮肤成纤维细胞进行间接和直接测试来评估体外生物相容性，结果显示在7天内细胞活力、粘附和铺展情况良好。最后，与未处理的对照相比，等离子体处理的贴片对心肌组织表现出强烈的粘附力，并且炎症反应明显降低，如梗死小鼠体内植入贴片周围CD45免疫细胞浸润减少所示，突出了表面处理在增强体内生物相容性方面的有效性。
