Evaluation of Cell-Material Interaction

Cell Culture as an Advantageous Evaluation System for Cell-Material Interaction 

This review is focused on the evaluation of the interaction between the artificial material and cells in cell culture conditions. In comparison with in vivo experiments, where both material and contacting cells are subjeeted to multiple and complex influences of the whole organism, the cell eulture represents a relatively simple and well-defined system. This system enable sereening of a wide range of materials and their surfaee modification in order to select the most appropriate variants for testing on laboratory animals and then for clinical studies. Therefore, the use of cell eulture eonsiderably saves these animals, and thus fulfills the ethical requirements for advanced scientific research. 

Primocultures and Low-Passaged Cultures from Laboratory Animals 

Specific Markers of Cell Behavior in Cell-Material System/A Vitro 

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Gevaert, M., Burg, K. J. L., Weinbrenner, D. and LaBerge, M., Novel direct contact cell culture apparatus for evaluation of cell-material interaction, Trans. 29th Annu. Meeting Soc. Biomater., 2003. 

Spinel and AlON transparent ceramics have been evaluated in terms of in vitro cytotoxicity, cell-materials interactions, and tribological performance, for potential wear resistant load bearing implant applications [179]. These transparent ceramics with high hardness in the range of 1334-1543 HV showed in vitro wear rate in the... 

Marques et al. (2002) studied the biocompatibility of starch-based polymers. The materials used for this study were (i) a 50/50 (wt%) blend of cornstarch and ethylene vinyl alcohol (SEVA-C), (ii) SEVA-C reinforced with 30 % (wt) of hydroxyapatite, (iii) a 50/50 (wt%) blend of cornstarch and cellulose acetate (SCA), and (iv) SCA reinforced with 30 % (wt) of hydroxyapatite. In the composites the average size of 90 % of the HA particles was found to be below 6.5 mm. Cytotoxicity tests with the extract of the materials were performed in order to evaluate the presence and or release of toxic leachables and degradation products. Cell material interactions on the surface of the polymers were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and related to the materials formulations. The short-term effect of leachables from starch-based polymers was quantified by exposing L929 cell to the degradation products released by those materials after immersion in culture medium. 

Despite the evidence for the cytotoxicity of CNTs, there are an increasing number of published studies that support the potential development of CNT-based biomaterials for tissue regeneration (e.g., neuronal substrates [143] and orthopedic materials [154—156]), cancer treatment [157], and drug/vaccine delivery systems [158, 159]. Most of these applications will involve the implantation and/or administration of such materials into patients as for any therapeutic or diagnostic agent used, the toxic potential of the CNTs must be evaluated in relation to their potential benefits [160]. For this reason, detailed investigations of the interactions between CNTs/CNT-based implants and various cell types have been carried out [154, 155, 161]. A comprehensive description of such results, however, is beyond the scope of this chapter. Extensive reviews on the biocompatibility of implantable CNT composite materials [21, 143, 162] and of CNT drug-delivery systems [162] are available. 

High-resolution 13C NMR studies have been conducted on intact cuticles from limes, suberized cell walls from potatoes, and insoluble residues that remain after chemical depolymerization treatments of these materials. Identification and quantitation of the major functional moieties in cutin and suberin have been accomplished with cross-polarization magic-angle spinning as well as direct polarization methods. Evidence for polyester crosslinks and details of the interactions among polyester, wax, and cell-wall components have come from a variety of spin-relaxation measurements. Structural models for these protective plant biopolymers have been evaluated in light of the NMR results. 

To some extent, platelet interaction on surfaces is mediated by shear force. Therefore it is essential to screen antiplatelet dmgs under flow conditions. Two different techniques are used to monitor platelet interaction on surfaces. The classical Baumgartner technique employs denuded rabbit aorta to evaluate platelet interaction with basement membrane components (89). The flat chamber technique uses a chamber in which cover slips coated with various test materials can be exposed to flowing blood (90). One can get a layer of cell matrix components for testing, by growing endothelial cells on cover slips and stripping them off the glass surface after they reach confluency. 

Dental composite resins have been worldwide utilized for the restorations in adult and young patients a careful evaluation of the interactions between the components of these materials and the host is therefore important. In this study, experiments on proliferation and differentiation have been performed to select the monomers concentrations capable of inducing cell differentiation albeit concurrently with an increased mortality, probably through a non-specific receptor-less way in an unspecific way. The experiments have been carried out using as controls both untreated and ATRA differentiated cells, the latter in order to checkout... 

In the following, we will focus on biophysical characterization of material surfaces, especially on quantifying their interaction with proteins and cells, and on biological evaluation of biomaterials and medical devices by in vitro tests as a first step towards ensuring their biocompatibility. 

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