Partially degradable film/fabric composites: Textile scaffolds for liver cell culture

In this study, a composite scaffold combining textile superstructures and b iomimetic glycopolymers is introduced, which may allow engineering of organ otypic liver tissue in vitro. Woven poly(ethylene therephtalat) (PET) fabri cs were coated on one side with a thin biodegradable polymer film (poly[D-L -lactic-co-glycolic acid] PLGA), in order to obtain a polar structure. The composite structure ensured the stability of the membrane during in vitro d egradation, independently of mesh size. Matrix porosity increased when a po lymer blend matrix was used. For hepatocyte culturing studies, the scaffold s were additionally coated with an artificial glycopolymer (poly[N-p-vinylb enzyl-D-lactoamide], PVLA) in order to improve cell attachment. It was obse rved that formation of aggregates depends on the scaffold geometry as well as on the pretreatment and medium conditions. After 4 days in culture, the pores of the fabric were filled with aggregates illustrating the possibilit y of immobilizing hepatocyte aggregates in well-defined spatial configurati ons on textile structures.