Controlling cell adhesion to titanium:: Functionalization of poly[oligo(ethylene glycol)methacrylate] brushes with cell-adhesive peptides

A monolayer of 11-(2-bromo-2-methyl)propionyloxy)undecenyldimethyl-chlorosilane on titanium serves as an initiator for surface-initiated atom-transfer polymerization of (oligoethylene glycol) methacrylate (OEGMA) to prepare poly(OEGMA) brushes. The polymer brush affords resistance to adhesion of osteoblastic cells. Treatment of the brush-modified surface with 4-nitrophenyl chloroformate followed by a GFOGER-containing peptide promotes cell adhesion, thereby representing a strategy to impart biofunctionality to titanium (see figure) and thereby promote osseointegration.