Functionalization of 3D printed polymeric bioresorbable stents with a dual cell-adhesive peptidic platform combining RGDS and YIGSR sequences

Abstract

Biomimetic surface modification with cell-adhesive peptides is a promising approach to improve endothelialization of current bioresorbable stents (BRS). Among them, RGDS and YIGSR sequences have been reported to mediate adhesion and migration of endothelial cells (ECs) while preventing platelet activation. This work presents the functionalization of novel 3D-printed poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and poly(L-lactic-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) BRS with linear RGDS and YIGSR sequences, as well as a dual platform (PF) containing both motifs within a single biomolecule. Functionalized surfaces were characterized in terms of static contact angle, biomolecule distribution under confocal fluorescence microscopy and peptide quantification via detachment from the surface, showing a biomolecule density in the range of 0.5 to 3.5 nmol cm⁻². Biological evaluation comprised a cell adhesion test on functionalized films with ECs and a blood perfusion assay on functionalized stents to assess ECs response and device hemocompatibility, respectively. Cell adhesion assays evidenced significantly increased cell number and spreading onto functionalized films with respect to control samples. Regarding stents’ hemocompatibility, platelet adhesion onto PLCL stents was severely decreased with respect to PLLA. In addition, functionalization with RGDS, YIGSR and the PF rendered BRS stents displaying even further reduced platelet adhesion. In conclusion, the combination of intrinsically less prothrombogenic materials such as PLCL and its functionalization with EC-discriminating adhesive biomolecules paves the way for a new generation of BRS based on accelerated re-endothelialization approaches.