Cytotoxicity associated with electrospun polyvinyl alcohol.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a versatile water-soluble polymer used in various industries, including biomedical devices.
• Electrospinning is a common technique for creating PVA-based materials for biomedical applications.
• The biocompatibility of electrospun PVA (nPVA) requires thorough evaluation, as processing may alter its properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the cytotoxicity of electrospun PVA (nPVA) that was not crosslinked after electrospinning.
• To compare the cytotoxicity of nPVA with non-electrospun PVA across different molecular weights.
• To identify the specific components of nPVA responsible for observed cytotoxicity.

Main Methods:

• PVA polymers of varying molecular weights were electrospun under consistent parameters.
• Electrospun and non-electrospun PVA solutions were applied to human coronary artery smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells.
• Differential scanning calorimetry was used to evaluate polymer degradation.
• Size exclusion chromatography was employed to fractionate nPVA and test individual fractions for cytotoxicity.

Main Results:

• All nPVA solutions exhibited cytotoxicity in a manner dependent on the initial PVA molecular weight.
• Non-electrospun PVA solutions showed no cytotoxicity, irrespective of concentration.
• Differential scanning calorimetry confirmed polymer degradation post-electrospinning.
• Cytotoxicity was attributed to low-molecular-weight fractions of nPVA, which were significantly more abundant than in non-electrospun samples.

Conclusions:

• Electrospinning of PVA generates cytotoxic low-molecular-weight fractions.
• The biocompatibility of electrospun polymers cannot be inferred from their non-electrospun counterparts.
• Careful assessment of electrospun material properties is crucial for safe biomedical applications.