The decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) obtained from human and porcine adipose tissue (AT) is currently used to prepare regenerative medicine bio-scaffolds. However, the influence of these natural biomaterials on host immune response is not yet deeply understood. Since macrophages play a key role in the inflammation/healing processes due to their high functional plasticity between M1 and M2 phenotypes, the evaluation of their response to decellularized ECM is mandatory. It is also necessary to analyze the immunocompetence of macrophages after contact with decellularized ECM materials to assess their functional role in a possible infection scenario. In this work, we studied the effect of four decellularized adipose matrices (DAMs) obtained from human and porcine AT by enzymatic or chemical methods on macrophage phenotypes and fungal phagocytosis. First, a thorough biochemical characterization of these biomaterials by quantification of remnant DNA, lipids, and proteins was performed, thus indicating the efficiency and reliability of both methods. The proteomic analysis evidenced that some proteins are differentially preserved depending on both the AT origin and the decellularization method employed. After exposure to the four DAMs, specific markers of M1 proinflammatory and M2 anti-inflammatory macrophages were analyzed. Porcine DAMs favor the M2 phenotype, independently of the decellularization method employed. Finally, a sensitive fungal phagocytosis assay allowed us to relate the macrophage phagocytosis capability with specific proteins differentially preserved in certain DAMs. The results obtained in this study highlight the close relationship between the ECM biochemical composition and the macrophage’s functional role.

survival was demonstrated in all the membranes after three months follow-up. A slight reduction in the extrusion rate of h-ADASC colonized materials was observed. No significant differences between the groups with and without h-ADASC were detected respect to transparency or neovascularization. We propose PEA with low hydroxylation as a scaffold for the anchoring ring of future keratoprosthesis.

A simple and economic method is presented that allows the preparation of transparent polystyrene (PS) substrates activated with chlorosulfonyl groups. Chlorosulfonation has been analyzed by ATR-FTIR. Linear PS chains with different degrees of chlorosulfonation have been synthesized as model compounds in order to analyze the modification quantitatively. After chlorosulfonation the activated surfaces can be quantitatively converted in aqueous solution at room temperature to sulfo or sulfonazide groups or react with bifunctional aliphatic amines of different length via formation of sulfonamide linkages. In this way, surfaces with a huge variety of functionalities like amines, carboxylic or sulfonic groups, sulfonazides, esters, etc. may be obtained in a selective way controlling their density at the surface. In all cases, functional surfaces with excellent optical transparency are obtained. Aminated surfaces have successfully been probed for ELISA assays.

Biomaterials with surface antibacterial properties are promising components for medical implants that might provide an alternative to conventional systemic antibiotic treatments. Herein is reported a general method, based on plasma polymerization techniques, to promote the formation of “clickable surfaces” which can be conjugated with chemically modified antibiotics (e.g., azido‐vancomycin) under very mild conditions. The procedure is comprised of three operations: (i) surface alkylcarboxylation with acrylic acid/CO2 plasma, (ii) alkyne functionalization by condensation with propargylamine, and (iii) in situ Cu(I)‐catalyzed alkyne–azide conjugation with azidovancomycin. The antibacterial activity of the resulting functionalized surfaces has been assessed against Staphylococcus epidermidis.