Properties of the poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan blend and its effect on theculture of fibroblast in vitro

In this work, the properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and PVA/chitosan blended membranes were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and electron spectroscopy for chemi cal analysis (ESCA). The SEM photographs show the PVA/chitosan blended memb rane undergoes dramatic changes on the surface and bulk structure during th e membrane formation. The DSC analysis shows that PVA and chitosan are not very compatible in the PVA/chitosan blended membrane, whereas the combinati on of two polymer chains of constitutionally different features is revealed . In addition, the surface of the PVA/chitosan blended membrane is enriched with nitrogen atoms at the ESCA analysis. These reflect the PVA membrane c an be modified by blending with chitosan that in turn may affect the biocom patibility of the blended membrane. Therefore, adhesion and growth of fibro blasts on the PVA as well as PVA/chitosan blended membranes were investigat ed. Cell morphologies on the membranes were examined by SEM and cell viabil ity was studied using MTT assay. It was observed that the PVA/chitosan blen ded membrane was more favorable for the cell culture than the pure PVA memb rane. Cells cultured on the PVA/chitosan blended membrane had good spreadin g, cytoplasm webbing and flattening and were more compacting than on the pu re PVA membrane. Consequently, the PVA/chitosan blended membrane may spatia lly mediate cellular response that can promote cell attachment and growth, indicating the PVA/chitosan blended membrane should be useful as a biomater ial for cell culture. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.