Multifunctional mussel-inspired copolymerized epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)/arginine coating: the potential as an ad-layer for vascular materials

Abstract

Surface properties are considered to be important factors in addressing proper functionalities. In this paper, a multifunctional mussel-inspired coating was prepared via the direct copolymerization of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and arginine. The coating formation was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectra. The EGCG/arginine coating contained diverse functional groups like amines, phenols and carboxyls, whose densities were also tunable. Such mussel-inspired coating could also be applied as an ad-layer for its secondary reactivity, demonstrated by quartz crystal microbalance technique. Moreover, the tunable surface density of phenols showed potential ability in modulating endothelial cell and smooth muscle cell viability. The coatings rich in phenols presented excellent free radical scavenging property. Current results strongly indicated the potential of EGCG/arginine coatings to be applied as an ad-layer for vascular materials.

Keywords: Mussel chemistry; epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG); multifunction; surface modification; vascular devices.

Figure 1.

(A) ATR-FTIR results of arginine, EGCG and EGCG/R-2/2 coating and (B) the comparison of different EGCG/arginine coatings

Figure 2.

(A) XPS wide scan of different sample surfaces and (B) high-resolution survey of EGCG/R-4/2 coatings on C1s, N1s and O1s

Figure 3.

(A) WCA results and (B) quantitative determination of diverse functional groups. Data expressed as mean ± SD (*P < 0.05)

Figure 4.

(A) Morphology of platelet adhesion and activation on different surfaces and (B) QCM monitoring of bivalirudin (BVLD) immobilization onto EGCG/R-4/2 coating surface

Figure 5.

(A) Cell counting results of adhered endothelial cells and (B) cytoskeletal actin stains of adhered endothelial cells cultured for 2 h. Data expressed as mean ± SD (***P < 0.001)

Figure 6.

Endothelial cell staining results after the proliferation for 1 and 3 day cultured on different samples

Figure 7.

(A) The free radical scavenging ability of different samples and (B) the protective effect of ECs against H₂O₂ injury with EGCG/R-4/2 and 316 L SS samples

Figure 8.

Smooth muscle cells staining on different surfaces after culturing for 1, 3 and 5 days

Figure 9.

Apoptosis of SMCs cultured on 316 L SS EGCG/R-4/2 coating surface after 1 and 3 days culture

Scheme 1.

The brief work of this paper on the preparation of EGCG/arginine coating and the investigation of the multifunction.