Different complex surfaces of polyethyleneglycol (PEG) and REDV ligand to enhance the endothelial cells selectivity over smooth muscle cells

Arg-Glu-Asp-Val (REDV) peptide with endothelial cells (ECs) selectivity was immobilized onto PEG based polymeric coating via the active p-nitrophenyloxycarbonyl group. The adhesion and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) onto surface modified either by REDV end-tethered polyethylene glycol (PEG) or by the complex of free PEG and REDV were investigated to understand the synergic action of nonspecific resistance of PEG and specific recognitions of REDV. Cell culture results indicated that the surfaces end tethered by REDV peptide via PEG “spacer” (n = 1, 6, 10) exhibited slight EC selectivity and showed small difference between different lengths of PEG chain. Both separate-culture and co-culture of HUVECs and HASMCs indicated that the introducing of free PEG into REDV tethered surface inhibited HASMCs adhesion significantly and remained a high level of HUVECs growth. Furthermore, the surface with short free PEG chain (n = 6) was much more effective to enhance ECs selectivity than long EG chain (n = 23). The combination of nonspecific resistance of short free PEG and the ECs selectivity of REDV peptide presents much better ability to enhance the competitive adhesion of HUVECs over HASMCs.