Transitory oxidative stress in L929 fibroblasts cultured on poly(ε-caprolactone) films

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is considered as a potential substrate for wide medical applications. In previous studies we carried out the in vitro biocompatibility assessment of PCL films using L929 mouse fibroblasts, obtaining good cell behaviour but a transitory stimulation of mitochondrial activity and cell retraction. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), mainly formed in mitochondria, can impair the function of several cellular components and produce cell oxidative stress by changing the normal red-ox status of the major cell antioxidants as glutathione. The aim of this study was to measure intracellular ROS production and glutathione content of L929 fibroblasts cultured on PCL films. Cell size, internal complexity, cell cycle and lactate dehydrogenase release were also evaluated. The films were treated with NaOH before culture to improve the cell–polymer interaction. PCL induces a transitory but significant oxidative stress in L929 fibroblasts. The treatment of PCL films with NaOH reduces this effect. PCL also induces transitory changes on cell size and complexity. Nevertheless, after 7 days in culture, cells reach control levels for all the studied parameters. Neither cell cycle nor membrane integrity appears affected by this oxidative stress respect to control cells at any culture time. These results underline the cytocompatibility of PCL films and, therefore, its potential utility as a suitable scaffold in tissue engineering.