A facile synthesis of density-tunable ZnO nanorod-array on PVTF film for biomedical application

The nanotopological morphology of biomaterials plays a significant role in cytocompatibility. As a coating for tissue engineering implants, zinc oxide nanorod (ZNR) arrays are usually utilized as anti-adhesion layers for cells with relatively limited applications in regulating cytocompatibility such as cell adhesion and proliferation. In this study, ZNR arrays were loaded onto the surface of the poly (vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (PVTF) substrate, and an embedding effect of molten PVTF on ZNR was achieved through high temperature capillary phenomenon. The embedding degree could be controlled by adjusting the C-axis orientation of ZNR arrays, thus allowing the construction of PVTF-ZNR composite films with varying nanorod distribution densities. The tunable surface nanotopology structure regulated the adhesion and proliferation behaviors of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), among which the surface nanostructure with a low nanorod distribution density was conducive to the spreading and proliferation of BMSCs. Furthermore, the nanostructure can detach from the surface after the early stage of adhesion and proliferation, ceasing to affect cellular behavior. The composite film is beneficial for tissue regeneration implants to promote cell adhesion and proliferation in early implantation. Additionally, it's promising in further repair due to the excellent piezoelectric property of PVTF.