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The Culture of Primary Motor and Sensory Neurons in Defined Media on Electrospun Poly-L-lactide Nanofiber Scaffolds
Published on: February 15, 2011
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Contacting Layer Affects Properties of Piezoelectric Poly-L-Lactide Biomaterial
Marija Vukomanovic1, Martina Žabčić1,2, Lea Gazvoda1
1Advanced Materials Department, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Polymers
|January 28, 2026
Summary
Adding contacting layers like PTFE, paper, or Kapton to poly-l-lactide (PLLA) during high-temperature drawing enhances its piezoelectric properties and cellular response. This simple method improves PLLA
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Science
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- High-temperature drawing of poly-l-lactide (PLLA) for piezoelectric applications is limited by its low elasticity and slow crystallization.
- Tailoring PLLA's molecular orientation and crystallization is crucial for developing ultrasound-active piezoelectric structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of different contacting layers on the high-temperature drawing process of PLLA.
- To enhance the piezoelectric properties and ultrasound responsiveness of PLLA.
- To evaluate the biological response of cells cultured on modified PLLA surfaces.
Main Methods:
- Applying contacting layers (PTFE, cellulose, polyimide) to PLLA surfaces before high-temperature drawing (250 °C).
- Characterizing the effects of these layers on PLLA crystallization and molecular orientation.
- Assessing the piezoelectric properties and ultrasound activation of modified PLLA, with and without hydroxyapatite (HAp) filler.
- Culturing human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) on the surfaces to evaluate cellular response.
Main Results:
- Contacting layers significantly influenced PLLA's drawing behavior, oriented crystallization, and molecular chain orientation.
- Modified PLLA surfaces exhibited enhanced piezoelectric properties and ultrasound-induced electro-signals.
- HaCaT cells on these surfaces showed activated cytoskeletons and directional migration, indicating effective stimulus transfer.
- The inclusion of morphologically anisotropic hydroxyapatite (HAp) filler further modulated piezoelectric responses.
Conclusions:
- High-temperature drawing of PLLA with contacting layers is a viable, solvent-free method to improve piezoelectricity.
- This approach broadens the application of traditional drawing techniques for organic piezoelectrics.
- The tailored piezoelectric surfaces can effectively stimulate and modulate cellular behavior, opening avenues for biomedical applications.
Keywords:
TeflonTeflon Scontacting layershuman keratinocytesorganic piezoelectricpaperpiezostimulationpoly-l-lactidepolyimideMore Related Videos
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