Bacterial cellulose membrane functionalized with RGD peptide for medical applications

Full text: Bacterial cellulose (BC) exhibits unique structural and mechanical properties, such as highly hydrophilic nature, biocompatibility, transparency and non-toxicity, characteristics that broadens its applications in biomedical and biotechnological fields [1]. The attachment of cells to biomedical materials can be improved by using adhesion sequences, such as RGD, found in several extracellular matrix proteins. The fundamental premise of tissue engineering is to develop tissue substitutes to restore or improve the function of diseased or damaged human tissues [2]. The aim this study was develop a biomaterial based on BC functionalized with an RGD peptide able to perform directed cell attachment, for skin tissue repair. The RGD-peptide (WTGRGDSPA) was manually synthesized by Solid Phase methodology, purified by reversed phase HPLC and characterized by amino acids analysis and mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and finally adsorbed to the hydrated BC membranes. Hydrated BC membranes were also used as solid support for BC-RGD peptide preparation. The samples were dried and cut as disks of 20 mm in diameter and 0.01 mm in thickness, and characterized by spectroscopy electronic microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). XRD pattern showed no changes in the BC crystallinity after peptide incorporation. Spectroscopy analysis showed bands assigned to amide I and III confirming the peptide incorporation. SEM images showed homogeneous peptide on BC nanofibers. As from the obtained results, the BC membranes will be submitted to in vitro assays to determine its potential as a biomaterial. References: [1] GEYER, U.; HEINZE,T.;KLEMM, D.; MARSCH, S.; SCHUMANN, D.; SCHMAUDER, H.P. Int. J. Biol. Macromol., v. 16, p. 343-347, 1994. [2] Andrade, F.K.; Moreira, S.M.G.; Domingues, L.; Gama, F.M.P. J Biomed Mater Res A. v.92, p.9-17, 2010.(author)