Production of collagen modified PDLA biofilms

Official URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/slct.202501064

Enhancing the biological functionality of polymeric biomaterials, particularly cell adhesion, proliferation, and biocompatibility, is essential for developing functional applications in tissue engineering. In this work, poly(D-lactic acid) (PDLA) was covalently grafted with collagen (PDLA-g-Coll) to overcome PDLA's inherent limitations in cellular interactions. The hybrid films were fabricated via solvent casting and subjected to comprehensive biological evaluation. In vitro experiments using L929 mouse fibroblast cells, demonstrated a marked enhancement in cell attachment and proliferation on the PDLA-g-Coll films compared to unmodified PDLA and pure collagen controls, as confirmed by MTT assays. These improvements are attributed to the increased surface hydrophilicity conferred by the grafted collagen chains, a finding corroborated by contact angle measurements. The favorable surface morphology of the PDLA-g-Coll films further supported cell proliferation. Collectively, these results highlight the synergistic integration of PDLA's mechanical strength and biodegradability with collagen's bioactivity, yielding a composite material with significant potential for application in tissue engineering.