Cell adhesive RGD peptide modified electrospun poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanofiber mesh

Abstract

A cell adhesive peptide, Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) was immobilized onto the surface of electrospun poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) PLGA nanofiber mesh in an attempt to mimic an extracellular matrix structure. A blend mixture of PLGA and PLGA-b-PEG-NH2 di-block copolymer dissolved in a 1:1 volume mixture of dimethylformamide and tetrahydrofuran was electrospun to produce a nanofiber mesh with functional primary amine groups on the surface. Various electrospinning parameters such as polymer concentration and the blend ratio were optimized to produce the nanofiber mesh having desirable morphology, surface character, and fiber diameter. A cell adhesive peptide, GRGDY, was covalently grafted onto the aminated surface of electrospun mesh under a hydrating condition. The amounts of surface primary amine groups and grafted RGD peptides were quantitatively determined. Cell attachment, spreading, and proliferation were greatly enhanced for RGD modified electrospun PLGA nanofiber mesh compared to the unmodified one.