Peptide-Functionalized PLA Coatings for Enhanced Bone Regeneration

Peptide-Functionalized PLA Coatings for Titanium Implants: A Novel Approach to Enhancing Osteogenesis and Bone Regeneration" The development of new biomedical implants demands increasingly innovative solutions to enhance tissue regeneration and promote seamless integration with the surrounding biological environment. This aspect is particularly crucial in orthopedics, where inadequate or impaired bone consolidation can lead to complications such as pseudoarthrosis. This project focuses on the design of advanced polymer coatings for titanium biomedical implants, utilizing polylactic acid (PLA) functionalized with specific osteogenic peptides. The primary objective is to develop materials that actively promote osteogenesis, facilitating implant integration and accelerating bone healing and regeneration. To achieve this, three peptides known for their osteogenic properties—hBMP2(73-92), hVEGF(17-25), and hPreptin(26-34)—have been synthesized and incorporated into PLA-based polymer films. PLA, a non-toxic polymer widely used in biomedical applications, has been extensively employed in the drug delivery sector in the form of highly diluted aqueous dispersions (1-5% or less) [1]. However, at higher concentrations, these dispersions present largely unexplored opportunities, enabling the fabrication of films and polymer coatings akin to vinyl polymer dispersions. Unlike the latter, PLA-based coatings offer significant environmental advantages due to their biodegradability and inherent recyclability. The peptide-functionalized films have been tested as substrates for stem cell growth and differentiation, yielding promising results. These findings open new perspectives in the field of orthopedic implant coatings, providing a strong foundation for further research and advancements in the development of next-generation biomaterials.