Surface modification of poly (D,L-lactic acid) with chitosan and its effects on the culture of osteoblasts in vitro.

Chitosan is a good biodegradable natural polymer, widely used in biomedical fields. In this study, chitosan was used to modify the surface of poly (D,L-lactic acid) (PDLLA) in order to enhance its cell affinity. The properties of a modified PDLLA surface and control were investigated by contact angle and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), which indicated the changes in surface energy and chemical structure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation displayed differences in surface morphology between the chitosan-modified film and the control. These data reflected that PDLLA films could be modified with chitosan and in turn may affect the biocompatibility of the modified films. Therefore, adhesion and growth of osteoblasts on modified PDLLA films as well as control were studied. Cell morphologies on the films were examined by SEM and cell viability was evaluated using an MTT assay; the differentiated cell function was assessed by measuring alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. The ALP activity of modified PDLLA films was significantly higher than that found on the control (p < 0.01). The proliferation of osteoblasts on modified films was also found to be higher than that on the control (p < 0.05), suggesting that chitosan could be used to modify PDLLA and then enhance its cell biocompatibility. Copyright 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.