Collagen Immobilization onto Acrylic Acid Laser-grafted Silicone for Using as Artificial Skin: In Vitro

The skin has an important role in human health and its defect can produce many problems in normal physiology. Because of its anatomy and physiology, most likely the skin is exposed to pathologic agents more than other organs. In this study, grafting of poly(acrylic acid) onto silicone rubber was carried out using CO2- pulsed laser as an excitation source in order to create functional groups to immobilize collagen. Collagen was immobilized onto poly(acrylic acid) grafted silicone through covalent bonding. Modified and unmodified surfaces were characterized by water contact angle; scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Fibroblast cells (L929) were cultured onto collagen immobilized poly(acrylic acid)-grafted silicone and poly(acrylic acid)-grafted silicone films. It was observed that collagen immobilized surfaces showed significant cell adhesion and growth in comparison with poly(acrylic acid)- grafted silicone samples. It seems that collagen immobilized surfaces may have an excellent potential to be used as a derm-like matrix.