Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Behaviors onto Epigallocatechin- 3-O-Gallate-Blended L-Lactide/ε-Caprolactone Copolymers

Abstract

In this study, such behaviors of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), as proliferation and migration, with serum stimulation were investigated onto (−)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG)-blended poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone, PLCL) copolymers (EGCG-b PLCL). VSMCs were primarily cultured from rat aorta, and EGCG-b PLCL films were fabricated by mixing PLCL with EGCG. The proliferation of VSMCs cultured onto EGCG-b PLCL film was significantly suppressed in spite of serum induction. Moreover, recovery of denuded area by VSMCs receiving conditioned media obtained from EGCG-b films was completely inhibited, whereas VSMCs onto intact films migrated into denuded area in response to serum showing essentially complete recovery. These results suggest that inhibition in the behaviors of serum-stimulated VSMCs may be mediated through the anti-proliferative effects of EGCG released from polymer films, and EGCG-b polymers can be applied for fabricating an EGCG-eluting vascular stent.