Ultra-thin Polymerized Dopamine Films For Biomedical Applications

Contemporary tissue scaffolds utilize a wide variety of synthetic and biopolymers due to their biocompatibility and structural versatility. Despite their favorable biocompatibility, many platforms suffer from limited functionalization that reduces their diversity for biomedical applications. In this project, our aim is to develop an artificial basement membrane (BM) platform for tissue engineering, wound healing and drug delivery purposes. This platform is based on glucose-mediated dopamine polymerization (GPDA), which forms an ultra-thin film that can be further modified through surface functional group interactions. Thereof, we evaluated the immobilization of albumin and Doxorubicin as protein and drug models to confirm the functionalization capability of the films. We subsequently confirmed the semi-permeability by assessing the diffusion of macromolecules and migration of cells through GPDA coated transwell inserts. Finally we investigated the possibility of transferring the films onto different surfaces in addition to improving structural integrity of the films under various pH and temperatures. These results show that ultra-thin GPDA films provide a biocompatible and semi-permeable platform capable of developing an ABM for tissue engineering. Further optimization of the platform may enable specialization tuned to skin tissue healing by the incorporation of natural BM proteins such as collagen and laminin.