Poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL) nanofibers are very attractive materials for tissue engineering (TE) due to their degradability and structural similarity to the extracellular matrix (ECM). However, upon exposure to biological media, their surface is rapidly fouled by proteins and cells, which may lead to inflammation and foreign body reaction. In this study, an approach for the modification of PCL nanofibers to prevent protein fouling from biological fluids and subsequent cell adhesion is introduced. A biomimetic polydopamine (PDA) layer was deposited on the surface of the PCL nanofibers and four types of antifouling polymer brushes were grown by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) from initiator moieties covalently attached to the PDA layer. Cell adhesion was assessed with mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). MEFs rapidly adhered and formed cell-matrix adhesions (CMAs) with PCL and PCL-PDA nanofibers. Importantly, the nanofibers modified with antifouling polymer brushes were able to suppress non-specific protein adsorption and thereby cell adhesion.

Faculty of Nuclear Science and Physical Engineering Czech Technical University Prague Trojanova 13 Prague 12000 Czech Republic

Institute for Applied Materials Hermann von Helmholtz Platz 1 Eggenstein Leopoldshafen 76344 Germany

Institute for Functional Interfaces Hermann von Helmholtz Platz 1 Eggenstein Leopoldshafen 76344 Germany

Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic v v i Heyrovsky sq 2 Prague 162 06 Czech Republic

Institute of Physics Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Cukrovarnicka 10 Prague 16253 Czech Republic

Zoological Institute Cell and Neurobiology Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Haid und Neu Straße 9 Karlsruhe 76131 Germany

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