Surface engineering of Ti-O films by photochemical immobilization of gelatin

Crystalline Ti-O films were prepared by unbalanced magnetron sputtering and the structure was confirmed by XRD. An organic layer of 3-aminopropylphosphonic acid (APP) was first introduced on the Ti-O films by self-assembling. The stability of the APP on Ti-O films was confirmed by XPS and FTIR analysis. Simultaneously, azido group was introduced in gelatin molecule to act as photoreactive point. The derivated gelatin was spin-coated onto the self-assembled layer and immobilized by UV irradiating. Chemical patterned surface was obtained by using a photomask when irradiating and confirmed by sirius red staining and surface profile analysis. Measured by surface profilometer, the thickness of the immobilized gelatin was about 5-20 nm. The adhering of human endothelial EVC304 cells on APP modified surface was enhanced in the cell culture test. Moreover, the adherence and growth of cells were prior on gelatin-immobilized region visually seen on the patterned surface. This result indicated gelatin-immobilized Ti-O surface can serve as a biocompatible biomaterial for endothelialization