Promotion of U937 cell adhesion on polypropylene surfaces bearing phosphorylcholine functionalities

Abstract

Phosphorylcholine (PC) groups were grafted onto ammonia plasma-treated biaxiallyoriented polypropylene (BOPP) surfaces, via (a) reductive amination of phosphorylcholine glyceraldehyde and (b) a two-step procedure involving the chemical amplification of surface amine groups with tris(2-aminoethyl amine) and subsequent reductive amination of phosphorylcholine glyceraldehyde. The occurrence of grafting was ascertained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared (ATR–FT-IR) spectroscopy. The wettability of PC-modified surfaces was assessed by dynamic contact-angle measurements using the Wilhelmy plate method. Human U937 macrophages adhered and proliferated to a significantly larger extent on PC-modified surfaces, compared to unmodified or ammonia plasma-modified BOPP.

Keywords:

• PHOSPHORYLCHOLINE
• REDUCTIVE AMINATION
• HUMAN MACROPHAGE ADHESION
• PLASMA TREATMENT