A laminin-apatite composite layer with enhanced cell adhesive properties was successfully formed on the surface of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) by a liquid phase coating process. The coating process was carried out with the following procedure. First, an EVOH plate was alternately dipped in 200 mM calcium and 200 mM phosphate solutions to introduce nuclei or precursors of apatite to its surface. Second, the surface-modified EVOH was immersed in a calcium phosphate solution, which was supersaturated with respect to apatite and containing laminin. As a result of this procedure, a laminin-apatite composite layer with a thickness of 2.5-3.0 microm was formed on the EVOH surface. Epithelial-like cells (BSCC93) adhered to the laminin-apatite composite layer showed enhanced cell spreading, which was due to the biological effect of laminin. The number of cells adhered to the laminin-apatite composite layer on EVOH was approximately 10 times as large as that adhered to the surface of the untreated, laminin-adsorbed, or apatite-coated EVOH. Therefore, this type of composite material consisting of a synthetic polymer, apatite, and laminin has great potential as a skin terminal, with improved adhesiveness to skin tissue, as well as good biocompatibility.
Copyright 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.