Calcification by MC3T3-E1 cells on RGD peptide immobilized on titanium through electrodeposited PEG

Abstract The effect of a cell-adhesive peptide containing Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) immobilized through poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) on titanium (Ti) on calcification by MC3T3-E1 cells was investigated to develop a new surface modification technique using biofunctional molecules. RGD was immobilized on Ti through PEG, both terminals of which were terminated with –NH2 and –COOH to combine with the Ti surface and RGD. PEG was immobilized on Ti with electrodeposition, and RGD, with immersion. For comparison, glycine was employed because it is the simplest molecule containing both –NH2 and –COOH at its terminals. MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured and differentiation-induced on each specimen, and the cell calcification properties were investigated. As a result, there was no significant difference in the morphology and extension of MC3T3-E1 cells cultured on each specimen, while the number of cells cultured on RGD/PEG/Ti was the largest. After differentiation-induction, there was no significant difference in the ALP activity among all specimens. On the other hand, the level of cell calcification on RGD/PEG/Ti was the highest. Therefore, the hard tissue compatibility of Ti is improved by immobilizing RGD through functional molecules which have a long molecular chain.