Multifunctional copolymer coating of polyethylene glycol, glycidyl methacrylate, and REDV to enhance the selectivity of endothelial cells

Multifunctional polymer coatings have potential applications in biomaterials. These coatings possess reactive functional groups for the immobilization of specific biological factors that can influence cellular behavior. These coatings also display low nonspecific protein adsorption. In this study, we prepared a multifunctional polymer coating through the deposition of random copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGMA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) to prevent nonspecific attachment and enable the covalence of Arg-Glu-Asp-Val (REDV) peptide with endothelial cells (ECs) selectivity. Coatings were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The adhesion and proliferation of ECs and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) onto the REDV-modified surface were investigated to understand the synergistic action of antifouling PEG and EC selective REDV peptide conjugated GMA. The copolymers containing GMA and PEG groups are very useful as a multifunctional coating material with anti-fouling and ECs specific adhesion for implant materials surface modification.