Fibronectin Conformations after Electrodeposition onto 316L Stainless Steel Substrates Enhanced Early-Stage Osteoblasts' Adhesion but Affected Their Behavior.

The implantation of metallic orthopedic prostheses is increasingly common due to an aging population and accidents. There is a real societal need to implement new metal implants that combine durability, good mechanical properties, excellent biocompatibility, as well as affordable costs. Since the functionalization of low-cost 316L stainless steel substrates through the successive electrodeposition of a polypyrrole film (PPy) and a calcium phosphate deposit doped with silicon was previously carried out by our labs, we have also developed a bio-functional coating by electrodepositing or oxidating of fibronectin (Fn) coating. Fn is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein involved in cell adhesion and differentiation. Impacts of either electrodeposition or oxidation on the structure and functionality of Fn were first studied. Thus, electrodeposition is the technique that permits the highest deposition of fibronectin, compared to adsorption or oxidation. Furthermore, electrodeposition seems to strongly modify Fn conformation by the formation of intermingled long fibers, resulting in changes to the accessibility of the molecular probes tested (antibodies directed against Fn whole molecule and Fn cell-binding domain). Then, the effects of either electrodeposited Fn or oxidized Fn were validated by the resulting pre-osteoblast behavior. Electrodeposition reduced pre-osteoblasts' ability to remodel Fn coating on supports because of a partial modification of Fn conformation, which reduced accessibility to the cell-binding domain. Electrodeposited Fn also diminished α5 integrin secretion and clustering along the plasma membrane. However, the N-terminal extremity of Fn was not modified by electrodeposition as demonstrated by