Surface engineering of poly(DL-lactic acid) by entrapment of alginate-amino acid derivatives for promotion of chondrogenesis

Alginate-amino acid derivatives were explored to engineer poly(DL-lactic acid)(PDL-LA) as glycocalyx-like surface to promote cell adhesion and growth. Four different kinds of alginate-amino acid derivatives were synthesized to mimic the glycocalyx of cell membrane to promote chondrogenesis. The alginate-amino acid derivatives were characterized by FT-IR, H-1 NMR and UV spectra and the amino acid content on alginate-amino acid derivatives was given by ninhydrin-UV method. A new strategy, entrapment, was then employed to modify PDL-LA membranes with alginate and its amino acid derivatives. The results of XPS, ATR-FTIR and contact angle confirmed that a stable thin film of alginate and its amino acid derivatives can be entrapped on the surface of PDL-LA membrane. The chondrocyte cytocompatibility test and MTT assays indicated that the alginate-amino acid derivatives modified PDL-LA membranes could promote chondrogenesis. The novel surface treatment method may have potentials for tissue engineering and other biomedical applications. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.