Surface modification of polycaprolactone with poly(methacrylic acid) and gelatin covalent immobilization for promoting its cytocompatibility.

Polycaprolactone (PCL) membrane was modified by grafting copolymerization of methacrylic acid (MAA) initiated under UV light. The covalent immobilization of gelatin on PCL-g-PMAA surface was consequently performed by using condensing agent, 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylamino propyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride. The occurrence of grafting copolymerization of PMAA and further immobilization of gelatin was confirmed by ATR-FTIR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy characterizations. The existence of carboxyl groups grafted on PCL surface was verified quantitatively by absorbance spectroscopy where rhodamine 6G was employed to react with carboxyl groups to generate an absorbance at 512 nm. The endothelial cell culture proved that the PCL membrane slightly modified with suitable amount of PMAA or gelatin had better cytocompatibility than control PCL or PCL membrane heavily modified with PMAA or gelatin. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd.