Mussel adhesive protein/platelet-rich plasma composite-coated titanium surfaces increase functionality of dermal fibroblasts

Bacterial invasion and epithelial downgrowth with pocket formation are still severe clinical challenges for transcutaneous implants, and both have a close relationship with the lack of a stable biological seal around the transcutaneous parts. Dermal fibroblasts are the main cells in the skin tissue and have been proven to play vital roles in the formation of biological seals. In this work, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which can release high concentrations of natural cytokines upon activation, was used to stimulate rapid fibroblast growth. Mussel adhesive proteins (MAPs) were used as mediators to anchor the platelets in the PRP onto Ti surfaces, and MAP/PRP composite-coated Ti surfaces were constructed successfully. This in vitro study indicated increased fibroblast adhesion (P < 0.05), spreading, and proliferation (P < 0.05) and upregulated extracellular matrix-related gene expression (P < 0.05) on a MAP/PRP composite-coated Ti surface compared with a control smooth Ti surface. Our results suggest that MAP/PRP composite-coated Ti surfaces are potentially useful for the formation of a stable biological seal in transcutaneous areas.