Photochemical surface derivatization of a peptide containing Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)

A photoreactive octapeptide (Gly-Gly-Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-Pro), into which the cell adhesive tripeptidyl sequence Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) was incorporated, was derivatized with 4-azidobenzoyloxysuccinimide at its N-terminal. Photochemical surface immobilization of the RGD peptide on poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was performed by adsorption and subsequent ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and was evidenced by electron spectra for chemical analysis (ESCA) measurements. Bovine endothelial cells (ECs) adhered and spread well on the RGD peptide-derivatized surfaces in a biologically specific manner. The use of a photomask during UV irradiation enabled preparation of a two-dimensional tissue with micron-order precision. Thus surface immobilization of a photoreactive, cell-adhesive peptide easily can create a cell attachment surface at a desired portion or region of a polymer surface or device.