Ellipsometric in vitro studies on blood plasma and serum adsorption to zirconium

The blood compatibility challenge. Part 3: Material associated activation of blood cascades and cells

Following protein adsorption/activation which is the first step after the contact of material surfaces and whole blood (part 2), fibrinogen is converted to fibrin and platelets become activated and assembled in the form of a thrombus. This thrombus formation is the key feature that needs to be minimized in the creation of materials with low thrombogenicity. Further aspects of blood compatibility that are important on their own are complement and leukocyte activation which are also important drivers of thrombus formation. Hence this review summarizes the state of knowledge on all of these cascades and cells and their interactions. For each cascade or cell type, the chapter distinguishes statements which are in widespread agreement from statements where there is less of a consensus. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This paper is part 3 of a series of 4 reviews discussing the problem of biomaterial associated thrombogenicity. The objective was to highlight features of broad agreement and provide commentary on those aspects of the problem that were subject to dispute. We hope that future investigators will update these reviews as new scholarship resolves the uncertainties of today.

Role of the Complement System in the Response to Orthopedic Biomaterials

Various synthetic biomaterials are used to replace lost or damaged bone tissue that, more or less successfully, osseointegrate into the bone environment. Almost all biomaterials used in orthopedic medicine activate the host-immune system to a certain degree. The complement system, which is a crucial arm of innate immunity, is rapidly activated by an implanted foreign material into the human body, and it is intensely studied regarding blood-contacting medical devices. In contrast, much less is known regarding the role of the complement system in response to implanted bone biomaterials. However, given the increasing knowledge of the complement regulation of bone homeostasis, regeneration, and inflammation, complement involvement in the immune response following biomaterial implantation into bone appears very likely. Moreover, bone cells can produce complement factors and are target cells of activated complement. Therefore, new bone formation or bone resorption around the implant area might be greatly influenced by the complement system. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on biomaterial-mediated complement activation, with a focus on materials primarily used in orthopedic medicine. In addition, methods to modify the interactions between the complement system and bone biomaterials are discussed, which might favor osseointegration and improve the functionality of the device.

Evaluation of silicon nitride as a wear resistant and resorbable alternative for total hip joint replacement

Many of the failures of total joint replacements are related to tribology, i.e., wear of the cup, head and liner. Accumulation of wear particles at the implants can be linked to osteolysis which leads to bone loss and in the end aseptic implant loosening. Therefore it is highly desirable to reduce the generation of wear particles from the implant surfaces. Silicon nitride (Si(3)N(4)) has shown to be biocompatible and have a low wear rate when sliding against itself and is therefore a good candidate as a hip joint material. Furthermore, wear particles of Si(3)N(4) are predicted to slowly dissolve in polar liquids and they therefore have the potential to be resorbed in vivo, potentially reducing the risk for aseptic loosening. In this study, it was shown that α-Si(3)N(4)-powder dissolves in PBS. Adsorption of blood plasma indicated a good acceptance of Si(3)N(4) in the body with relatively low immune response. Si(3)N(4) sliding against Si(3)N(4) showed low wear rates both in bovine serum and PBS compared with the other tested wear couples. Tribofilms were built up on the Si(3)N(4) surfaces both in PBS and in bovine serum, controlling the friction and wear characteristics.

Interactions of adsorbed albumin with underpotentially deposited copper on gold piezoelectrodes

The adsorption of a model protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), on Au electrodes was investigated using the Cu adatom probe method and Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Nanobalance (EQCN) technique. The adsorption of BSA was confirmed by AFM imaging and has been found to be controlled by kinetics. Using the Cu adatom probe method, we were able to reconstruct the entire BSA adsorption transient Theta(BSA) vs. t. The adsorption rate constant k(1), determined from this transient is k(1)=2.45x10(5) L mol(-1) s(-1). We have found that the bulk Cu(0) deposition process is blocked by BSA adsorption and it decays exponentially with time during BSA adsorption. It ceases completely when a full monolayer of BSA is formed. In contrast to that, the mass associated with Cu-u.p.d. decreases only to ca. 50% of that in the absence of BSA, indicating that Cu adatoms can penetrate (wedge) into the space between the surface Au atoms and the adsorbed BSA molecules. In addition to that, we have found that the degree of penetration of Cu adatoms can be controlled by the applied deposition potential. By selecting a sufficiently cathodic potential, we were able to deposit a full Cu-u.p.d. monolayer, independent of the BSA surface coverage extending from Theta(BSA)=0 to Theta(BSA) approximately 1. The positive shift of Cu(ad) desorption peak potential E(p), observed in the presence of adsorbed BSA, has been interpreted in terms of Frumkin exchange interaction forces between Cu(ad) and BSA(ad), on the basis of our earlier theoretical model, expanded here to include adsorbed species in two monolayers. This expansion is possible owing to the fast rate of Cu adatom penetration in the interfacial region. From the plots of E(p) vs. Theta(BSA), the presence of strong attractive interactions between Cu(ad) and BSA(ad) was deduced. These interactions result in a super-shift of the Cu-u.p.d. desorption peak potential, corresponding to the exchange interaction coefficient g(M,X)<-4, indicating on a possibility of the formation of a stable interface complex.

Influence of electrostatic interaction on fibrinogen adsorption on gold studied by imaging ellipsometry combined with electrochemical methods

Imaging ellipsometry was combined with electrochemical methods for studying electrostatic interactions of protein and solid surfaces. The potential of zero charge for gold-coated silicon wafer/solution interfaces wad determined by AC impedance method. The potential of the gold-coated silicon wafer was controlled at the potential of zero charge, and the adsorption of fibrinogen on the potential-controlled and non-controlled surfaces was measured in real time at the same time by imaging ellipsometry. The effect of electrostatic interaction was studied by comparing the difference between the potential of controlled adsorption and the potential of noncontrolled adsorption. It was shown that the rate of fibrinogen adsorption on the potentiostatic surface was faster than that on the nonpotentiostatic surface. The electrostatic influence on fibrinogen adsorption on the gold-coated silicon wafer was weak, so the hydrophobic interaction should be the major affinity.

Binding of C3 fragments on top of adsorbed plasma proteins during complement activation on a model biomaterial surface

In the present study we investigate whether complement activation in blood in contact with a model biomaterial surface (polystyrene) occurs directly on the material surface or on top of an adsorbed plasma protein layer. Quartz crystal microbalance-dissipation analysis (QCM-D) complemented with enzyme immunoassays and Western blotting were used. QCM-D showed that the surface was immediately covered with a plasma protein film of approximately 8 nm. Complement activation that started concomitantly with the adsorption of the protein film was triggered by a self-limiting classical pathway activation. After adsorption of the protein film, alternative pathway activation provided the bulk of the C3b deposition that added 25% more mass to the surface. The build up of alternative pathway convertase complexes using purified C3 and factors B and D on different protein films as monitored by QCM-D showed that only adsorbed albumin, IgG, but not fibrinogen, allowed C3b binding, convertase assembly and amplification. Western blotting of eluted proteins from the material surface demonstrated that the C3 fragments were covalently bound to other proteins. This is consistent with a model in which the activation is triggered by initiating convertases formed by means of the initially adsorbed proteins and the main C3b binding is mediated by the alternative pathway on top of the adsorbed protein film.

Biocompatibility of β-stabilizing elements of titanium alloys

In comparison to the presently used alpha + beta titanium alloys for biomedical applications, beta-titanium alloys have many advantageous mechanical properties, such as an improved wear resistance, a high elasticity and an excellent cold and hot formability. This will promote their future increased application as materials for orthopaedic joint replacements. Not all elements with beta-stabilizing properties in titanium alloys are suitable for biomaterial applications-corrosion and wear processes cause a release of these alloying elements to the surrounding tissue. In this investigation, the biocompability of alloying elements for beta- and near beta-titanium alloys was tested in order to estimate their suitability for biomaterial components. Titanium (grade 2) and the implant steel X2CrNiMo18153 (AISI 316 L) were tested as reference materials. The investigation included the corrosion properties of the elements, proliferation, mitochondrial activity, cell morphology and the size of MC3T3-E1 cells and GM7373 cells after 7 days incubation in direct contact with polished slices of the metals. The statistical significance was considered by Weir-test and Lord-test (alpha = 0.05). The biocompatibility range of the investigated metals is (decreasing biocompatibility): niobium-tantalum, titanium, zirconium-aluminium-316 L-molybdenum.

Characterizing multicomponent adsorbed protein films using electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, and radiolabeling: capabilities and limitations

Characterization of complex adsorbed protein films is a critical aspect of biomaterials science, particularly in understanding the in vivo response to biomaterials. The surface analysis techniques electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) are particularly suited to the analysis of complex adsorbed protein films due to their wide applicability to a variety of materials. We have investigated the applicability of ESCA for studying the structure of adsorbed serum and plasma protein layers. ESCA was able to monitor the thickness of the adsorbed protein film. Due to its chemical specificity, ToF-SIMS was used to estimate the composition of the plasma and serum protein layers by comparison of their spectra with the spectra of single protein films. The limit of detection of ToF-SIMS for the plasma protein fibrinogen was determined by comparison with independent radiolabeled fibrinogen adsorption measurements. While ToF-SIMS was able to determine some qualitative trends in the composition of the plasma protein films as a function of adsorption time, the detection limit of the minor components in multicomponent adsorbed protein films ultimately limits the ability of ToF-SIMS to quantify the composition of these films. However, both ESCA and ToF-SIMS can provide useful information on adsorbed plasma protein films without further sample treatment. This study outlines the strengths and weaknesses of ESCA and ToF-SIMS for studying multicomponent adsorbed plasma protein films.