Immobilization of biomolecules on surface of polycaprolactone for artificial skin application

Abstract

In order to make polycaprolactone (PCL), a biocompatible and biodegradable synthetic aliphatic polyester more favorable for artificial skin application this research aims to increase hydrophilicity as well as to improve cellular responses of PCL by chemical modification followed by immobilization of biomolecules. PCL film was first chemically modified by aminolysis of 1,6-hexamethylenediamine or graft copolymerization of acrylic acid (AA) to introduce amino or carboxyl groups, respectively, on its surface. The immobilization of collagen and chitosan was then carried out by using disuccinimidylcarbonate (DSC) or 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDCI) N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) as a coupling agent. Data from ATR-FTIR analysis and water contact angle measurements indicated that PCL film became more hydrophilic after chemical modification and the immobilization of biomolecules on the surface-modified PCL film was successful. In vitro responses of keratinocyte (HEK001) and fibroblast (L929) cell expressed in terms of adhesion and proliferation ratios proved that introducing hydrophilic groups and further immobilizing with biomolecules can markedly improve cytocompatibility of the virgin PCL films. The degree of improvement depended upon the density and the type of immobilized biomolecules.