Preparation of Laminin-apatite-polymer Composites Using Metastable Calcium Phosphate Solutions

TB3; A synthetic polymer with a laminin-apatite composite layer on its surface would be useful as a percutaneous device. The preparation of such a composite was attempted in the present study using poly ( ethylene terephthalate ) (PET) and polyethylene ( PE ) as the synthetic polymer. PET and PE plates and those pretreated with an oxygen plasma were alternately dipped in calcium and phosphate ion solutions, and then immersed in a metastable ealcium phosphate solution supplemented with laminin ( LCP solution ). The PET and PE plates pretreated with an oxygen plasma formed a uniform and continuous layer of a laminin- apatite composite on their surfaces. In contrast, the PET and PE plates that had not been pretreated with an oxygen plasma did not form a continuous layer of a laminin-apatite composite on their surfaces. The hydrophilic functional groups on the PET and PE surfaces introduced by the plasma treatment were responsible for the successful laminin-apatite composite coating.