Biomimetic L-aspartic acid-derived functional poly(ester amide)s for vascular tissue engineering.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Polymeric biomaterials can be functionalized to direct cell behavior.
• Poly(ester amide)s (PEAs) offer tunable properties for biomedical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize PEAs functionalized with l-phenylalanine and l-aspartic acid.
• To evaluate HCASMC response to 2-D PEA films and 3-D electrospun scaffolds.
• To demonstrate the conjugation of growth factors to PEA surfaces.

Main Methods:

• Interfacial polycondensation for PEA synthesis.
• Cell culture (HCASMCs) on 2-D films and 3-D scaffolds.
• Characterization using SEM, XPS, and immunofluorescence.
• Assessment of cell attachment, spreading, proliferation, and protein expression (vinculin, SMαA, calponin).

Main Results:

• PEA films supported HCASMC attachment, spreading, and proliferation.
• HCASMCs on PEA films showed vinculin expression but not SMαA, indicating a proliferative phenotype.
• Electrospun PEA scaffolds (130-294 nm fibers) were successfully fabricated.
• HCASMCs on 3-D scaffolds showed potential increases in SMαA and calponin expression.
• Transforming growth factor-β1 was successfully conjugated to PEA surfaces via pendant carboxylic acid groups.

Conclusions:

• PEAs synthesized with aspartic acid are promising biomaterials for vascular tissue engineering.
• The ability to functionalize PEAs with signaling molecules like TGF-β1 enhances their potential therapeutic applications.
• Both 2-D films and 3-D scaffolds derived from these PEAs warrant further investigation.