| Abstract: | Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) films and track-etched microporous membranes naturally display, on their surfaces, reactive chain-ends, i.e. carboxyl and hydroxyl functions. These were assayed by suitable activation (reaction with carbodiimide and tosyl chloride, respectively), followed by coupling with 3H-lysine and liquid scintillation counting of the sample-associated radioactivity. Values ranging between 5 and 30 pmol/cm2 (open surface) of labeled end-groups were obtained, depending on the physico-chemical nature of the samples. Basic hydrolysis enriched the PET films with both types of endings (15–25 pmol/cm2). Reduction of films with the NaBH4-catechol complex in tetrahydrofuran enriched their surfaces with hydroxyl groups. However, this procedure was not readily applicable to the surface modification of membranes; we observed an erosion effect that was confirmed by scanning electron microscope analyses. In contrast with the reduction process, the oxidation with KMnO4 in 1.2N H2SO4 could be easily applied to the modification of either films or membranes; their surfaces were significantly enriched with carboxyl groups (15–50 pmol/cm2). This surface modification strategy has been used for the covalent coupling of adhesive proteins on PET membranes developed as supports for cell cultivation. |
