Characterization and cytocompatibility of surface modified polyamide66.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Polyamide66 (PA66) membranes are widely used but often require surface modification for specific biomedical applications.
• Enhancing the biocompatibility and cell interaction of PA66 is crucial for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To chemically modify PA66 membranes by grafting methacrylic acid (MAA) and subsequently immobilizing gelatin.
• To investigate the surface properties and in vitro cytocompatibility of the modified PA66 membranes.

Main Methods:

• Graft polymerization of MAA onto PA66 membranes using UV initiation.
• Covalent immobilization of gelatin onto MAA graft chains via carbodiimide coupling.
• Surface characterization using UV-vis spectroscopy, FTIR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and water contact angle (WCA) measurements.
• In vitro cell culture studies with MG63 cells.

Main Results:

• Successful grafting of carboxyl groups onto the PA66 surface, confirmed by UV-vis spectroscopy.
• Significant decrease in WCA from 67.5° to 30°, indicating increased hydrophilicity.
• Increased surface roughness from RMS 16 nm to 21 nm after modification.
• Enhanced MG63 cell attachment and proliferation on gelatin-immobilized PA66 membranes compared to unmodified PA66.

Conclusions:

• The chemical modification of PA66 membranes with MAA and gelatin significantly enhances their surface properties and cytocompatibility.
• The modified PA66 membranes serve as a promising template for cell attachment and proliferation, suitable for biomedical applications.
• The employed method utilizes moderate reaction conditions and less toxic reagents, facilitating functional group introduction onto polymer surfaces.