Search

Graphical abstract Highlights • SO 3 and PO 3 groups produced by Michael addition on heptylamine plasma polymer. • XPS analysis shows that protein adsorption saturated between 1 and 2 h. • QCM-D shows that passivation with HSA leads to reversible adsorption of lysozyme. • For fibrinogen, partial displacement occurs, regardless of surface chemistry. • Protein adsorption onto SO 3 or PO 3 surfaces is not dominated by electrostatics. Abstract As some proteins are known to interact with sulfated and phosphated biomolecules such as specific glycosaminoglycans, this study derives from the hypothesis that sulfonate and phosphonate groups on solid polymer surfaces might cause specific interfacial interactions. Such surfaces were prepared by plasma polymerization of heptylamine (HA) and subsequent grafting of sulfonate or phosphonate groups via Michael-type addition of vinylic compounds. Adsorption of the proteins fibrinogen, albumin (HSA) and lysozyme on these functionalised plasma polymer surfaces was studied by XPS and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D). It was also studied whether pre-adsorption with HSA would lead to a passivated surface against further adsorption of other proteins. XPS confirmed grafting of vinyl sulfonate and vinyl phosphonate onto the amine surface and showed that the proteins adsorbed to saturation at between 1 and 2 h. QCM-D showed rapid and irreversible adsorption of albumin on all three surfaces, while lysozyme could be desorbed with PBS to substantial extents from the sulfonated and phosphonated surfaces but not from the amine surface. Fibrinogen showed rapid initial adsorption followed by slower additional mass gain over hours. Passivation with albumin led to small and largely reversible subsequent adsorption of lysozyme, whereas with fibrinogen partial displacement yielded a mixed layer, regardless of the surface chemistry. Thus, protein adsorption onto these sulfonated and phosphonated surfaces is complex, and not dominated by electrostatic charge effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complement system is an important part of the innate immune response, and there is great interest in understanding how complement proteins interact with lipid membrane interfaces, especially in the context of recognizing foreign particulates (e.g., liposomal nanomedicines). Herein, a supported lipid bilayer platform was employed in order to investigate the effect of membrane surface charge (positive, negative, or neutral) on the adsorption of three complement proteins. Quartz crystal microbalance-dissipation (QCM-D) experiments measured the real-time kinetics and total uptake of protein adsorption onto supported lipid bilayers. The results demonstrate that all three proteins exhibit preferential, mainly irreversible adsorption onto negatively charged lipid bilayers, yet there was also significant variation in total uptake and the relative degree of adsorption onto negatively charged bilayers versus neutral and positively charged bilayers. The total uptake was also observed to strongly depend on the bulk protein concentration. Taken together, our findings contribute to a broader understanding of the factors which influence adsorption of complement proteins onto lipid membranes and offer guidance towards the design of synthetic lipid bilayers with immunocompetent features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determination of molecular diffusion across biomaterial interfaces, including those involving hydrogels and tissues remains important, underpinning the understanding of a broad range of processes including, for example, drug delivery. Current techniques using Raman spectroscopy have previously been established as a method to quantify diffusion coefficients, although when using spontaneous Raman spectroscopy, the signal can be weak and dominated by interferences such as background fluorescence (including biological autofluoresence). To overcome these issues, we demonstrate the use of the stimulated Raman scattering technique to obtain measurements in soft tissue samples that have good signal-to-noise ratios and are largely free from fluorescence interference. As a model illustration of a small metabolite/drug molecule being transported through tissue, we use deuterated ( d 7 -) glucose and monitor the Raman C-D band in a spectroscopic region free from other Raman bands. The results show that although mass transport follows a diffusion process characterized by Fick's laws within hydrogel matrices, more complex mechanisms appear within tissues.

Biomaterials with suitable surface modification strategies are contributing significantly to the rapid development of the field of bone tissue engineering. Despite these encouraging results, utilization of biomaterials is poorly translated to human clinical trials potentially due to lack of knowledge about the interaction between biomaterials and the body defense mechanism, the "immune system". The highly complex immune system involves the coordinated action of many immune cells that can produce various inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Besides, bone fracture healing initiates with acute inflammation and may later transform to a regenerative or degenerative phase mainly due to the cross-talk between immune cells and other cells in the bone regeneration process. Among various immune cells, macrophages possess a significant role in the immune defense, where their polarization state plays a key role in the wound healing process. Growing evidence shows that the macrophage polarization state is highly sensitive to the biomaterial's physiochemical properties, and advances in biomaterial research now allow well controlled surface properties. This review provides an overview of biomaterial-mediated modulation of the immune response for regulating key bone regeneration events, such as osteogenesis, osteoclastogenesis, and inflammation, and it discusses how these strategies can be utilized for future bone tissue engineering applications., (© 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)