Functionalization of Polycaprolactone 3D Scaffolds with Hyaluronic Acid Glycine-Peptide Conjugates and Endothelial...

This study enhances the bioactivity of polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds for tissue engineering by functionalizing them with oxidized hyaluronic acid glycine-peptide conjugates to improve endothelial cell adhesion and growth. Hyaluronic acid was conjugated with a glycine-peptide to create a bioactive interface on PCL (static water contact angle, SCA(H₂O): 98°). The scaffolds were fabricated using a melt extrusion 3D printing technique. The HA-glycine peptide conjugates were oxidized and immobilized on aminolyzed PCL via Schiff-base chemistry, introducing hydrophilicity (SCA(H₂O): 21°), multiple functional groups, and a negative zeta potential (-12.04 mV at pH 7.4). A quartz crystal microbalance confirmed chemical conjugation and quantified the mass (8.5-10.3 mg m^-2) of oxidized HA-glycine on PCL. The functionalized scaffolds showed enhanced swelling, improved mechanical properties (2-fold increase in strength, from 26 to 51 MPa), and maintained integrity during degradation. In-vitro experiments demonstrated improved endothelial cell adhesion, proliferation and viability, suggesting the potential for vascularized tissue constructs.