Directed assembly of PEGylated-peptide coatings for infection-resistant titanium metal.
Appropriate surface chemistry between a material and its surrounding biological environment is crucial to the eventual integration and performance of any implant, whether metal, plastic, or ceramic. A robust peptide-based coating technology capable of easily modifying the surface of titanium (Ti) metal through noncovalent binding is described. A short peptide possessing affinity for Ti was identified using a phage display screening process and subjected to an amino acid substitution exercise using solid-phase chemical synthesis. Through these studies, the HKH tripeptide motif was elucidated as an important contributor to Ti binding within the Ti-binding peptide. This peptide spontaneously and selectively adsorbs onto a Ti surface from dilute aqueous solution with submicromolar binding affinities as determined by ELISA and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), through a process largely dominated by electrostatic interactions. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) reveals a densely packed peptide adlayer with an average height of approximately 0.5 nm. Subsequently, a PEGylated analogue of the peptide was shown to rapidly coat Ti to afford a nonfouling surface that efficiently blocked the adsorption of fibronectin and significantly reduced the extent of Staphylococcus aureus attachment and biofilm formation in vitro. These PEGylated-peptide coatings show promise in terms of resolving two major hurdles common to implanted metals: (i) nonspecific protein adsorption and (ii) bacterial colonization. At the same time, the facile one-step modification process will facilitate the point-of-care application of these coatings in the surgical suite.
Khoo
Xiaojuan
X
Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
Hamilton
Paul
P
O'Toole
George A
GA
Snyder
Brian D
BD
Kenan
Daniel J
DJ
Grinstaff
Mark W
MW
D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry*; D020650:Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000187:drug effects; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D019151:Peptide Library; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000382:microbiology / Q000592:standards; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D005353:Fibronectins; D019151:Peptide Library; D010455:Peptides; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D014025:Titanium