Electrospun PLLA fibers coated with chitosan/heparin for scaffold of vascular tissue engineering

Abstract Electrospun PLLA fiber films were coated with chitosan and heparin by electrostatic self-assembly as scaffolds of vascular tissue engineering. Analyses on morphology and composition of the coated fibers were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Results showed that pore structure of the electrospun fiber disappeared after electrostatic self-assembly (ESA), and that the coated fiber films were enriched with nitrogen and sulfur elements. The hydrophilicity of the coated fiber films increased with the increase of the coated layer number. Trendline of contact angle showed a saw tooth with alternation of coating chitosan and heparin. In addition, cell tests with vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and endothelial vascular cells (EVCs) were performed. Proliferation of VSMCs on the pure PLLA fiber films was better than that on the coated fiber films. However, the proliferation of EVCs on the coated fiber films was better than that on the pure PLLA fiber films. These results provided a novel idea for designing vascular structure. The electrospun fiber films coated by ESA would have a potential application as the scaffolds in vascular tissue engineering.