FIBROBLAST SEEDING AND CULTURE IN BIODEGRADABLE POROUS SUBSTRATES

A natural poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-9% hydroxyvalerate) copolyester was processed into a three-dimensional porous foam structure by salt leach ing/solvent casting with previously sieved sodium chloride salts. Labo ratory-built P(HB-9% HV) foams and commercial collagen sponges were cu t into small rectangular specimens, sterilized, and prewetted using et hanol, rinsed with Dulbecco's minimum essential medium + 10% serum cul ture media, and seeded with fibroblasts isolated from canine anterior cruciate ligaments. The fibroblast cultures into such porous substrate s were performed from 0 to 35 days by incubation (5% CO2) at 37 degree s C. It demonstrated that the P(HB-HV) sustained a cell proliferation rate similar to that observed in collagen sponges, up to at least 35 d ays, with a maximal cell density on the day 28 in culture. On the othe r hand, the P(HB-HV) materials kept their structural integrity during the culture period while the collagen foams contracted greatly. Furthe r, the total protein production after 4 weeks in culture was found to be twice as high (190 +/- 10%) in the P(HB-9% HV) foam than in the col lagen foam. Porous P(HB-HV) materials appear to be adequate polymeric substrates for cell cultures. However, further evaluations are still r equired to confirm such preliminary results. (C) 1995 John Wiley and S ons, Inc.