Poly(ether imide) Membranes Modified with Poly(ethylene imine) as Potential Carriers for Epidermal Substitutes

Poly(ether imide) (PEI) membranes were modified with a linear low‐molecular weight (PETIM_0.6) and a branched high‐molecular weight poly(ethylene imine) (PETIM_60). The membrane surfaces became more hydrophilic and the zeta potentials were shifted from negative to positive zeta values after immobilisation of both PETIM. These measurements also indicated the presence of a swollen surface layer in the case of PETIM_60, while a regular structuring of the surface was observed with scanning force microscopy for PETIM_0.6. A human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT was cultured on the different membranes. It was found that HaCaT cell growth was stimulated by PETIM_0.6. Cells reached earlier confluence on this substratum, while their growth was inhibited on a PEI membrane modified with PETIM_60, which makes PEI membranes modified with PETIM_0.6 a promising material for in vitro culture of epidermal transplants. Keratinocytes cultured for 4 d on PETIM_0.6 stained for cell cytoskeleton visualised by confocal laser scanning microscopy.