| Abstract: | A series of surface-functionalized poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) films has been prepared by selective wet-chemistry; they are hydroxylated polymer (PEEK-OH) obtained by reduction, aminated polymer (PEEK-]-NH2) prepared by coupling a diisocyanate reagent to PEEKOH (PEEK-]-NCO) followed by hydrolysis, and carboxylated and aminocarboxylated polymers (PEEK-]-GABA and PEEK-Lysine) resulting from the coupling of aminoacids to PEEK-]-NCO. The aminated and carboxylated substrata promoted the adhesion and growth of CaCo2 cells in the presence of serum. Fibronectin (FN), an extra-cellular matrix protein, has been covalently fixed and/or adsorbed on various PEEK substrata, in the presence or not of a polymeric surfactant (Pluronic F68). The performances of the FN-grafted substrata (PEEK-]-FN(1) and PEEK-]-FN(2)) were significantly higher than those of reference substrata simply coated with FN (PEEK-OH(+FN)(1) and (2), PEEK-]-NH2(+FN)(1) and (2)), considering the adhesion and spreading of CaCo2 cells in the absence of serum. Moreover, the stability of the adherent cells on the FN-adsorbed substrata dramatically depended on the experimental conditions applied during the PEEK coating with FN. |
