Multifunctional Coating Improves Cell Adhesion on Titanium by using Cooperatively Acting Peptides

Promotion of cell adhesion on biomaterials is crucial for the long-term success of a titanium implant. Herein a novel concept is highlighted combining very stable and affine titanium surface adhesive properties with specific cell binding moieties in one molecule. A peptide containing L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine was synthesized and affinity to titanium was investigated. Modification with a cyclic RGD peptide and a heparin binding peptide (HBP) was realized by an efficient on-resin combination of Diels-Alder reaction with inverse electron demand and Cu(I) catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition. The peptide was fluorescently labeled by thiol Michael addition. Conjugating the cyclic RGD and HBP in one peptide gave improved spreading, proliferation, viability, and the formation of well-developed actin cytoskeleton and focal contacts of osteoblast-like cells.