Fabrication of Polycaprolactone/Polyurethane Loading Conjugated Linoleic Acid and Its Antiplatelet Adhesion

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Polymer Science
• Cardiovascular Research

Background:

• Polymeric scaffolds are crucial for tissue engineering, particularly for artificial blood vessels.
• Improving the hemocompatibility of these scaffolds is essential to prevent thrombosis and ensure clinical success.
• Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is known for its potential biological activities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a hemocompatible polycaprolactone/polyurethane (PCL/PU) fibrous scaffold loaded with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).
• To evaluate the antithrombotic properties and endothelial cell interactions of the CLA-loaded PCL/PU scaffolds.
• To assess the suitability of these modified scaffolds for artificial blood vessel applications.

Main Methods:

• Electrospinning was used to fabricate PCL/PU and PCL/PU-CLA fibrous scaffolds.
• Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were employed for material characterization.
• In vitro hemocompatibility tests included platelet adhesion, whole blood clot formation, and endothelial cell (EC) seeding.

Main Results:

• SEM confirmed successful incorporation of CLA into the PCL/PU scaffold, altering surface morphology.
• PCL/PU-CLA scaffolds exhibited significantly lower platelet adhesion and blood cell attachment compared to PCL/PU scaffolds.
• Endothelial cells showed enhanced spreading and proliferation on the PCL/PU-CLA surface.
• Reduced whole blood clotting was observed on the PCL/PU-CLA scaffolds.

Conclusions:

• Electrospinning effectively produced CLA-loaded PCL/PU scaffolds with improved hemocompatibility.
• The PCL/PU-CLA scaffold demonstrates promising antithrombotic properties and supports endothelialization.
• These findings suggest the potential of CLA-modified PCL/PU scaffolds for use in artificial blood vessel development.