Cell and Material Interface

152 Cell and Material Interface

6.2.2 protEin immobilization at tHE cEll–scaFFold intErFacE

Polymeric scaffolds can be made more suitable for cell attachment and growth by

surface modication. Various peptide sequences derived from ECM molecules such

as vitronectin, laminin, collagen, and brinogen have also been used to mediate cell

attachment (LeBaron and Athanisou, 2000). Among these, laminin 332 (formerly

termed laminin 5) is of special interest for skin tissue engineering since it is the

major component of the basement membrane of skin, synthesized by keratinocytes

for attachment. Its interaction with integrins plays important roles in the adhesion,

proliferation, and migration of skin cells (Tsuruta et al., 2008). Recently, it was