Biocompatible Materials Based on Self-Assembling Peptides on Ti25Nb10Zr Alloy: Molecular Structure and Organization Investigated by Synchrotron Radiation Induced Techniques
Valeria Secchi,
Stefano Franchi,
Marta Santi,
Alina Vladescu,
Mariana Braic,
Tomáš Skála,
Jaroslava Nováková,
Monica Dettin,
Annj Zamuner,
Giovanna Iucci,
Chiara Battocchio
Affiliations
Valeria Secchi
Department of Science, Roma Tre University of Rome, Via della Vasca Navale 79, 00146 Rome, Italy
Stefano Franchi
Department of Science, Roma Tre University of Rome, Via della Vasca Navale 79, 00146 Rome, Italy
Marta Santi
Department of Science, Roma Tre University of Rome, Via della Vasca Navale 79, 00146 Rome, Italy
Alina Vladescu
National Institute for Optoelectronics, 409 Atomistilor St., 077125 Magurele, Romania
Mariana Braic
National Institute for Optoelectronics, 409 Atomistilor St., 077125 Magurele, Romania
Tomáš Skála
Department of Surface and Plasma Science, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, V Holešovičkách 2, 18000 Prague, Czech Republic
Jaroslava Nováková
Department of Surface and Plasma Science, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, V Holešovičkách 2, 18000 Prague, Czech Republic
Monica Dettin
Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padua, Via Marzolo, 9, Padua 35131, Italy
Annj Zamuner
Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padua, Via Marzolo, 9, Padua 35131, Italy
Giovanna Iucci
Department of Science, Roma Tre University of Rome, Via della Vasca Navale 79, 00146 Rome, Italy
Chiara Battocchio
Department of Science, Roma Tre University of Rome, Via della Vasca Navale 79, 00146 Rome, Italy
In this work, we applied advanced Synchrotron Radiation (SR) induced techniques to the study of the chemisorption of the Self Assembling Peptide EAbuK16, i.e., H-Abu-Glu-Abu-Glu-Abu-Lys-Abu-Lys-Abu-Glu-Abu-Glu-Abu-Lys-Abu-Lys-NH2 that is able to spontaneously aggregate in anti-parallel β-sheet conformation, onto annealed Ti25Nb10Zr alloy surfaces. This synthetic amphiphilic oligopeptide is a good candidate to mimic extracellular matrix for bone prosthesis, since its β-sheets stack onto each other in a multilayer oriented nanostructure with internal pores of 5–200 nm size. To prepare the biomimetic material, Ti25Nb10Zr discs were treated with aqueous solutions of EAbuK16 at different pH values. Here we present the results achieved by performing SR-induced X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (SR-XPS), angle-dependent Near Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy, FESEM and AFM imaging on Ti25Nb10Zr discs after incubation with self-assembling peptide solution at five different pH values, selected deliberately to investigate the best conditions for peptide immobilization.
