Neural Stem Cell Spreading on Lipid Based Artificial Cell Surfaces, Characterized by Combined X-ray and Neutron Reflectometry

We developed a bioadhesive coating based on a synthetic
peptide-conjugate (AK-cycloRGDfC]) which contains multiples of the
arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid (RGD) amino acid sequence.
Biotinylated AK-cycloRGDfC] is bound to a supported lipid bilayer
via a streptavidin interlayer. Layering, hydration and packing of
the coating is quantified by X-ray and neutron reflectometry
experiments. AK-cycloRGDfC] binds to the streptavidin interlayer in
a stretched-out on edge configuration. The highly packed
configuration with only 12% water content maximizes the number of
accessible adhesion sites. Enhanced cell spreading of neural stem
cells was observed for AK-cycloRGDfC] functionalized bilayers. Due
to the large variety of surfaces which can be coated by
physisorption of lipid bilayers, this approach is of general
interest for the fabrication of biocompatible surfaces.