Biomimetic poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) membranes for cardiac patch application

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Cardiac tissue regeneration requires advanced biomaterials.
• Poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) is a promising biodegradable elastomer for biomedical applications.
• Cell-material interactions are crucial for effective tissue repair.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a biomimetic poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) matrix for cardiac patch applications.
• To enhance cell adhesion and growth on PGS surfaces through peptide functionalization.
• To create a conducive environment for cardiac progenitor cells at the polymer interface.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of dense films and porous PGS scaffolds.
• Surface modification of PGS membranes via covalent binding of Tyr-Ile-Gly-Ser-Arg (YIGSR) and Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-Pro (GRGDSP) peptides.
• Optimization of chemical modification using sequential alkaline hydrolysis and acidification.
• Physicochemical analysis, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), chemical imaging, and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) for characterization.

Main Results:

• Optimal surface chemical modification conditions (0.01 M NaOH for 5 min and 0.01 M HCl for 25s) were identified.
• Enhanced exposure of carboxyl groups (COOH) on the PGS surface without compromising bulk properties.
• Successful and homogenous functionalization of PGS membranes with YIGSR and GRGDSP peptides confirmed.
• Demonstrated support for adhesion and growth of both rat and human cardiac progenitor cells.

Conclusions:

• Biomimetic PGS membranes functionalized with laminin and fibronectin peptide sequences support cardiac progenitor cell adhesion and growth.
• The developed PGS cardiac patch offers a conducive microenvironment for cardiac tissue engineering.
• This approach holds potential for advancing cardiac repair strategies.