# Functionalisation of PLLA with polymer brushes to trigger the assembly of fibronectin into nanonetworks
**Source**: https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/176060/
**Parent**: https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/project_code/303613.html
\
# Functionalisation of PLLA with polymer brushes to trigger the assembly of fibronectin into nanonetworks
[Sprott, Mark Robert](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/51346.html) [ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1990-9498](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1990-9498), Gallego-Ferrer, Gloria, [Dalby, Matthew J.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/9268.html) [ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0528-3359](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0528-3359), [Salmeron-Sanchez, Manuel](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/30067.html) [ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8112-2100](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8112-2100) and [Cantini, Marco](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/30437.html) [ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0326-1508](https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0326-1508)
(2019)
Functionalisation of PLLA with polymer brushes to trigger the assembly of fibronectin into nanonetworks.
*[Advanced Healthcare Materials](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/journal_volume/Advanced_Healthcare_Materials.html)*, 8(3),
1801469.
(doi: [10.1002/adhm.201801469](https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.201801469))
(PMID:[30609243](https://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/30609243))
| | |
| --- | --- |
| Preview | [Text](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/176060/7/176060.pdf) 176060.pdf - Published Version Available under License [Creative Commons Attribution](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). 2MB |
## Abstract
Poly‐l‐lactic acid (PLLA) has been used as a biodegradable polymer for many years; the key characteristics of this polymer make it a versatile and useful resource for regenerative medicine. However, it is not inherently bioactive. Thus, here, a novel process is presented to functionalize PLLA surfaces with poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA) brushes to provide biological functionality through PEA's ability to induce spontaneous organization of the extracellular matrix component fibronectin (FN) into physiological‐like nanofibrils. This process allows control of surface biofunctionality while maintaining PLLA bulk properties (i.e., degradation profile, mechanical strength). The new approach is based on surface‐initiated atomic transfer radical polymerization, which achieves a molecularly thin coating of PEA on top of the underlying PLLA. Beside surface characterization via atomic force microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and water contact angle to measure PEA grafting, the biological activity of this surface modification is investigated. PEA brushes trigger FN organization into nanofibrils, which retain their ability to enhance adhesion and differentiation of C2C12 cells. The results demonstrate the potential of this technology to engineer controlled microenvironments to tune cell fate via biologically active surface modification of an otherwise bioinert biodegradable polymer, gaining wide use in tissue engineering applications.
| | |
| --- | --- |
| Item Type: | Articles |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | [Sprott, Dr Mark](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/51346.html) and [Dalby, Professor Matthew](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/9268.html) and [Salmeron-Sanchez, Professor Manuel](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/30067.html) and [Cantini, Dr Marco](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/30437.html) |
| Authors: | [Sprott, M. R.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/51346.html), Gallego-Ferrer, G., [Dalby, M. J.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/9268.html), [Salmeron-Sanchez, M.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/30067.html), and [Cantini, M.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/30437.html) |
| College/School: | [College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/divisions/20000000/) > [School of Molecular Biosciences](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/divisions/25400000/) [College of Science and Engineering](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/divisions/30000000/) > [School of Engineering](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/divisions/30300000/) > [Biomedical Engineering](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/divisions/30303000/) |
| Journal Name: | [Advanced Healthcare Materials](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/journal_volume/Advanced_Healthcare_Materials.html) |
| Publisher: | Wiley |
| ISSN: | 2192-2640 |
| ISSN (Online): | 2192-2659 |
| Published Online: | 04 January 2019 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2019 The Authors |
| First Published: | First published in Advanced Healthcare Materials 8(3):1801469 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
| Data DOI: | [10.5525/gla.researchdata.715](https://doi.org/10.5525/gla.researchdata.715) |
University Staff: [Request a correction](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/cgi/request_correction?eprintid=176060) | Enlighten Editors: [Update this record](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/cgi/users/home?screen=EPrint::View&eprintid=176060)
Funder and Project Information
[Funder and Project Information](#)
[Funder and Project Information](#)
Project Code
Award No
Project Name
Principal Investigator
Funder's Name
Funder Ref
Lead Dept
[72206](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/project_code/72206.html)
1
Engineering growth factor microenvironments- a new therapeutic paradigm for regenerative medicine
Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez
[Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/funder/Engineering_and_Physical_Sciences_Research_Council_=28EPSRC=29.html)
EP/P001114/1
ENG - BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
[303613](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/project_code/303613.html)
0
Engineered microenvironments to harvest stem cell response to viscosity for cartilage repair
Marco Cantini
[Medical Research Council (MRC)](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/funder/Medical_Research_Council_=28MRC=29.html)
MR/S005412/1
ENG - Biomedical Engineering
[47056](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/project_code/47056.html)
3
DTC in cell and proteomic technologies (continuation)
Jonathan Cooper
[Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/funder/Engineering_and_Physical_Sciences_Research_Council_=28EPSRC=29.html)
EP/F500424/1
ENG - BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
Deposit and Record Details
[Deposit and Record Details](#)
[Deposit and Record Details](#)
| | |
| --- | --- |
| ID Code: | 176060 |
| Depositing User: | [Ms Jacqui Brannan](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/profile/6299) |
| Datestamp: | 19 Dec 2018 10:49 |
| Last Modified: | 02 May 2025 20:13 |
| Date of acceptance: | 18 December 2018 |
| Date of first online publication: | 4 January 2019 |
| Date Deposited: | 19 December 2018 |
| Data Availability Statement: | Yes |
Download Statistics
[Download Statistics](#)
[Download Statistics](#)
Downloads per month over past year
[View more statistics](#)