Surface Modification of PEOT/PBT Membrane with Silk Fibroin Anchoring and its Potential Application in Artificial Salivary Gland Construct

We reported the preparation of surface modified poly (ethylene oxide terephthalate) - poly (butylene terephthalate) membrane by the method of silk fibroin anchoring, namely SF/(PEOT/PBT). Its surface properties were characterized by contact angles and XPS and the biocompatibility of the composite membrane was further evaluated by human salivary epithelial cells (HSG cells) growth in vitro. Results revealed that SF/(PEOT/PBT) possessed the low water contact angle (48.0±3.0°) and immobilized a great amount of fibroin (fibroin surface coverage: 26.39 wt%), which attributed to the formation of polar groups such as hydrosulfide group, sulfonic group, carboxyl and carbonyl ones in the process of SO2 plasma treatment. HSG cells growth in vitro indicated that the silk fibroin anchoring could significantly enhance the biocompatibility of PEOT/PBT membrane, which suggested the potential application of fibroin anchoring PEOT/PBT for clinical HSG cells transplantation in the artificial salivary gland construct.