Biomimetic Hemocompatible Coatings through Immobilization of Hyaluronan Derivatives on Metal Surfaces

Biomimetic coatings offer exciting options to modulate the biocompatibility of biomaterials. The challenge is to create surfaces that undergo specific interactions with cells without promoting nonspecific fouling. This work reports an innovative approach toward biomimetic surfaces based on the covalent immobilization of a carboxylate terminated PEGylated hyaluronan (HA-PEG) onto plasma functionalized NiTi alloy surfaces. The metal substrates were aminated via two different plasma functionalization processes. Hyaluronan, a natural glycosaminoglycan and the major constituent of the extracellular matrix, was grafted to the substrates by reaction of the surface amines with the carboxylic acid terminated PEG spacer using carbodiimide chemistry. The surface modification was monitored at each step by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). HA-immobilized surfaces displayed increased hydrophilicity and reduced fouling, compared to bare surfaces, when exposed to human platelets (PLT) in an in vitro assay with radiolabeled platelets (204.1 +/- 123.8 x 10 (3) PLT/cm (2) vs 538.5 +/- 100.5 x 10 (3) PLT/cm (2) for bare metal, p < 0.05). Using a robust plasma patterning technique, microstructured hyaluronan surfaces were successfully created as demonstrated by XPS chemical imaging. The bioactive surfaces described present unique features, which result from the synergy between the intrinsic biological properties of hyaluronan and the chemical composition and morphology of the polymer layer immobilized on a metal surface.