Surface engineering of poly(D,L-lactic acid) by entrapment of soluble eggshell membrane protein.

Soluble eggshell membrane protein (SEP) is used to engineer poly(D,L-lactic acid) (PDL-LA) membrane surface by a physical entrapment method to enhance cytocompatibility. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and contact angle measurements are used to characterize SEP-modified PDL-LA membrane surface and confirm the formation of an even and stable layer of SEP on PDL-LA membrane surface. NIH3T3 cell lines are used as model cells to evaluate cytocompatibility of the SEP-modified PDL-LA membrane, which is much better than that of virgin PDL-LA membrane. The enhanced cytocompatibility facilitates potential application in tissue engineering. Copyright 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.