Modification of titanium alloy surfaces for percutaneous implants by covalently attaching laminin

Percutaneous implants require a seal at the skin interface. Laminin (L-332) is a component of the basement membrane, integral to epidermal attachment. To enhance the attachment of keratinocytes onto the surface of titanium alloy (Ti(6)Al(4)V), we attached L-332 onto the surface using silanization (L-332==Ti(6)Al(4)V). Iodinated L-332 was used to investigate protein attachment kinetics. L-332==Ti(6)Al(4)V remained attached after immersion in serum compared with adsorbed L-332. Cells from a keratinocyte line (HaCaT) grown on L-332==Ti(6)Al(4)V were significantly smaller (p < 0.05) with over a 20-fold increase in the number of adhesion plaques compared with nontreated Ti(6)Al(4)V control discs or with adsorbed L-332 surfaces. We have shown that it is possible to augment the surface of Ti(6)Al(4)V with L-332 and that this significantly increases the attachment of keratinocytes.