Interaction of Tissue Engineering Substrates with Serum Proteins and Its Influence on Human Primary Endothelial Cells
Polymer-based biomaterials particularly polycaprolactone (PCL) are one of the most promising substrates for tissue engineering. The surface chemistry of these materials plays a major role since it governs protein adsorption, cell adhesion, viability, degradation, and biocompatibility in the first place. This study correlates the interaction of the most abundant serum proteins (albumin, immunoglobulins, fibrinogen) with the surface properties of PCL and its influence on the morphology and metabolic activity of primary human arterial endothelial cells that are seeded on the materials. Prior to that, thin films of PCL are manufactured by spin-coating and characterized in detail. A quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D), a multiparameter surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy instrument (MP-SPR), wettability data, and atomic force microscopy are combined to elucidate the pH-dependent protein adsorption on the PCL substrates. Primary endothelial cells are cultured on the protein modified polymer, and conclusions are drawn on the significant impact of type and form of proteins coatings on cell morphology and metabolic activity.
1 – Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz , Heinrichstraße 28, 8010 Graz, Austria
2 – Institute for Chemistry and Technology of Materials, Graz University of Technology , Stremayrgasse 9, 8010 Graz, Austria
3 – Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Vascular Research, Stiftingtalstrasse 24, 8010 Graz, Austria
4 – Institute of Physiology, Medical University of Graz , Harrachgasse 21/V, 8010 Graz, Austria
5 – Laboratory for Characterization and Processing of Polymers (LCPP), University of Maribor, Smetanova 17, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia