Fibronectin adsorption or and covalent grafting on chemically modified PEEK film surfaces

Poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) films were chemically modified, by surface wet chemistry. into PEEK-OH, PEEK-NH2, and PEEK-NCO. Fibronectin (FN) adsor ption, in the presence or absence of two non-ionic surfactants, was compare d onto PEEK, PEEK-OH, and PEEK-NH2 on which the protein can only be adsorbe d, and onto PEEK-NCO on which FN could be covalently grafted. The amounts o f FN present on the various supports were assayed by ELISA and LSC (with I- 125-labeled FN). The remarkable effect of Pluronic F68 in preventing non-sp ecific protein adhesion on the less hydrophilic surfaces was pointed out. A ccordingly, a procedure could be proposed that allows minimal FN adhesion v s FN fixation on PEEK-NCO, The resulting PEEK-FN film, which immobilized 12 0-150 ng FN cm(-2), constitutes a new substratum for cell cultivation.