β-PVDF Membranes Induce Cellular Proliferation and Differentiation in Static and Dynamic Conditions

Bone marrow cells are a potential source to induce different lineage cells which can be used to rebuild or replace damaged tissues using a Tissue Engineering (TE) approach. However, TE strategies usually require the use of a material to support the development of a biological tissue. Beta-polyvinylidene fluoride (β-PVDF) is a biocompatible, thermoplastic with piezo-electrical properties that has been shown to provide a good cellular attachment and therefore might present advantageous properties as a scaffold material for cell seeding/culturing. The present study describes the characterization of β-PVDF membranes as a support material for growth and differentiation of goat marrow cells (GMCs) into osteoblasts, leading to the formation of substitutes for tissue regeneration. The obtained results suggest that β-PVDF piezoelectric properties influence cellular behavior. β- PVDF membranes not only enhance GMCs adherence and proliferation but also improve differentiation towards the osteogenic phenotype both in static and dynamic culture conditions. Furthermore, β-PVDF membranes exhibit very promising properties, suggesting that this material provides adequate support for the seeding and the development of undifferentiated cells towards a desired phenotype.