Laminin Immobilized on Titanium Oxide Films for Enhanced Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cell Adhesion and Growth

Abstract

In prior work we have shown that titanium oxide (Ti-O) thin films have good blood compatibility. However, as well as being hemocompatible, biomaterials used in contact with blood should be cell compatible also. In the work described here, Ti-O films were synthesized using unbalanced magnetron sputtering (UBMS) and were modified by immobilizing laminin on the film surface for improving human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) adhesion and growth. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and contact-angle measurements were used to investigate the surface characteristics of the Ti-O films and the modified Ti-O films. The results suggest that Laminin can be biochemically immobilized on the Ti-O film surface. The modified layer of Laminin can improve the hydrophilicity and wettability of Ti-O films. In vitro HUVEC investigations reveal that Laminin immobilized on the film surface greatly enhances cell adhesion and growth on Ti-O films.