The effect of PLGA doping of polycaprolactone films on the control of osteoblast adhesion and proliferation in vitro

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) film was modified using specified amounts of poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) to provide a means to control polymer degradation. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of doping PCL with PLGA on the materials degradation, morphology and cell adhesion, to determine the significant variables within the process that could provide further control of cell adhesion. PLGA-doped PCL films were aged in osteogenic medium at 37 °C for up to 28 days. The aged samples were analysed in terms of weight loss or weight gain, molecule deposition and surface morphology. Molecule deposition was determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in attenuated total reflectance mode (FTIR-ATR) and morphology was determined using scanning electron microscopy and interferometric microscopy. The loss of the PLGA doping during degradation enhanced the formation of nano-porous structures in the remaining PCL domains, which attracted the deposition of substances from the osteogenic medium, which favoured the attachment and growth of human osteoblasts. The growth of osteoblasts was influenced by the controlled release of acidic products through polymer blending. Two pairs of FTIR-ATR absorption bands at 1090 and 1110 cm−1, and at 1180 and 1190 cm−1 were found to correlate to both PLGA and PCL, respectively. Changing the level of PLGA doping in PCL provided an approach to control the acidic products which can direct the growth of osteoblast cells.