Sulfated glyco-block copolymers with specific receptor and growth factor binding to support cell adhesion and proliferation

We report on the successful preparation of thin glyco-block copolymer films with a combined thermoresponsive and heparin-like functionality. The copolymers were synthesized from poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and glucose units and were covalently fixed onto glass supports by means of low pressure plasma cross-linking. The thin films retain the thermoresponsive characteristics of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) with a transition temperature around 33 degrees C. Additionally, it could be shown that sulfation of the glucose moieties introduces a heparin-like functionality to the films. An increase in binding of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) as well as specific adhesion of endothelial cells and hematopoietic progenitor cells could be demonstrated. The functional coupling of bFGF to the glyco-block copolymer surfaces was further proven by the dose-dependent response of endothelial cell proliferation. The results show that the newly synthesized glyco-block copolymers allow for the preparation of biomimetic surfaces with dual functionalities of thermoresponsive and heparin-like characteristics for the application in cell culture experiments with specific binding and release of heparin-binding growth factors and cell adhesion receptors.