Peptide-functionalized biomedical polymers that support cell adhesion and prevent bacterial attachment

The demand for multifunctional biomaterials drives the development of medical polymers from passive support to active scaffolds in infection control and tissue regeneration. To address antimicrobial resistance and implant rejection, we generated peptide-functionalized scaffolds using electrospun polyurethane (PU) and poly(l-lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLC). We synthesized two peptides containing 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) for stable surface immobilization: one providing antifouling activity, and the other combining antifouling activity with the adhesive Arg–Gly–Asp (RGD) motif to promote cell adhesion. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the peptide attachment to the polymers. Both peptides reduced bacterial adhesion by ∼90%. The RGD-functionalized peptide enhanced cell adhesion by over 400% on PU, while PLC scaffolds maintained similar cell compatibility with the peptide-functionalized scaffolds. Hemocompatibility tests showed minimal hemolysis and thrombus formation, supporting use in blood-contacting applications. We also report the application of enzymatic cleavage coupled with liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) for quantifying peptide surface density on biomedical scaffolds. These results demonstrate the promise of peptide-functionalized scaffolds in biomedical implant applications.