Intrinsic Cellular Responses of Human Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells Influenced by O(2)-Plasma-Modified and Unmodified Surface of Alkaline-Hydrolyzed 2D and 3D PCL Scaffolds

Polycaprolactone (PCL), a hydrophobic-degradable polyester, has been widely investigated and extensively developed, to increase the biocompatibility for tissue engineering. This research was the first trial to evaluate the intrinsic biological responses of human Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hWJMSCs) cultured on alkaline hydrolysis and low-pressure oxygen plasma modified 2D and 3D PCL scaffolds, without adding any differentiation inducers; this has not been reported before. Four types of the substrate were newly established: 2D plasma-treated PCL (2D-TP), 2D non-plasma-treated PCL (2D-NP), 3D plasma-treated PCL (3D-TP), and 3D non-plasma-treated PCL (3D-NP). Physicochemical characterization revealed that only plasma-treated PCL scaffolds significantly increased the hydrophilicity and % oxygen/carbon ratio on the surfaces. The RMS roughness of 3D was higher than 2D conformation, whilst the plasma-treated surfaces were rougher than the non-plasma treated ones. The cytocompatibility test demonstrated that the 2D PCLs enhanced the initial cell attachment in comparison to the 3Ds, indicated by a higher expression of focal adhesion kinase. Meanwhile, the 3Ds promoted cell proliferation and migration as evidence of higher cyclin-A expression and filopodial protrusion, respectively. The 3Ds potentially protected the cell from apoptosis/necrosis but also altered the pluripotency/differentiation-related gene expression. In summary, the different configuration and surface properties of PCL scaffolds displayed the significant potential and effectiveness for facilitating stem cell growth and differentiation in vitro. The cell–substrate interactions on modified surface PCL may provide some information which could be further applied in substrate architecture for stem cell accommodation in cell delivery system for tissue repair.