Modeling of RGDC film parameters using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Immobilization of peptides on surfaces is a common method to investigate biological response to biomaterials for the development of improved tissue engineering constructs. Peptide immobilization can be achieved by either physical adsorption or covalent attachment on the surface. In this work, the RGDC peptide was covalently immobilized to alumina substrate for investigation of bone cell response. An understanding of RGDC film formation is necessary for further biological characterization. Thus, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to chemically characterize these films. These data were further utilized to calculate RGDC film thickness, density, and coverage, which are essential for understanding bone cell interactions with the underlying films and substrate.