Synthesis and cell affinity of functionalized poly( -lactide-co-β-malic acid) with high molecular weight

A novel functionalized biodegradable poly( -lactide-co-β-benzyl malolactonate) (p-PLMA) with high molecular weight was synthesized through ring-opening copolymerization. Three p-PLMA copolymers with different β-benzyl malolactonate content were synthesized. The molecular weight (Mw) and tensile strength of the copolymer with 4 mol% β-benzyl malolactonate content were 179,800 and 19.0 MPa respectively, the molecular weight (Mw) and tensile strength of p-PLMA decreased with β-benzyl malolactonate content increasing. The hydrophilicity of the de-protected product: poly( -lactide-co-β-malic acid) (d-PLMA) increased with malic acid content increasing. The results of 3T3 mice fibroblasts cultivated on d-PLMA films showed that the cell adhesion on d-PLMA was better than that of PLLA and the cell attached efficiency of d-PLMA with 8 mol% malic acid content was the highest. The cells grew well both on the surface and inside of d-PLMA scaffolds. The cell affinity of d-PLMA was better than that of PLLA.