Polytetrafluoroethylene topographies determine the adhesion, activation, and foreign body giant cell formation of macrophages

Abstract

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is one of the commonly used materials in making various cardiovascular implants. However, the success rates of these implants in several occasions are hindered by unwanted immune responses from immune cells, such as macrophages. In this study, we investigated the response of macrophages with different structures (flat, expanded, and electrospun) of PTFE having varied surface topographies: smooth planar surface (flat PTFE), node-fibrils (ePTFE), and randomly oriented microfibers (electrospun PTFE). The electrospun PTFE showed the least adhesion of macrophages. Also, the morphology of macrophages adhered on electrospun PTFE exhibited minimal activation. The macrophage pro-inflammatory cytokine secretions showed that the lowest level of TNF-α was produced on electrospun PTFE whereas IP-10 was produced in lowest levels on expanded PTFE (ePTFE). The production of IL-6 and MCP-1 cytokines was also dependent on the structure of PTFE that the macrophages interacted with, but in a time-dependent manner. Confocal microscopy images taken at 7, 14, and 21 days showed that the electrospun PTFE resulted in the lowest percentage of macrophage fusion, thus indicating the least possible chance of foreign body giant cell (FBGC) formation. Therefore, this study showed that electrospun PTFE with randomly oriented microfibers can provide reduced adhesion, activation, and FBGC formation of macrophages compared to the smooth and planar surface of flat PTFE and node-fibril structured surface of ePTFE. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 2441-2450, 2017.

Improved biocompatibility of profiled sutures through lower macrophages adhesion

“…The authors argue that cell adhesion to the material was hampered due to spatial limitations, reduced cell‐material contact area, and a curvature threshold effect . They also demonstrated that topographical/geometrical (suture) features, such as a small inter‐filament distance (<8 μm), prevents macrophage adhesion. Furthermore, Saino et al stated that adhesion of macrophages and their expression of proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines were mainly dependent on filament diameter.…”

In Vivo Analysis of the Biocompatibility and Macrophage Response of a Non-Resorbable PTFE Membrane for Guided Bone Regeneration

“…However, it has been shown that nearly every biomaterial induces an inflammatory tissue reaction, which is unique for every material depending on its combination of physical and chemical properties [ 15 ]. This tissue reaction to a biomaterial is a cascade including mainly macrophages as key elements, which have been shown to express both pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules depending on material factors such as surface topography or surface chemistry [ 16 , 17 , 18 ]. Based on their molecule expression, macrophages are more or less divided into pro-inflammatory M1- and anti-inflammatory M2 subtypes [ 19 , 20 ].…”

The Condensation of Collagen Leads to an Extended Standing Time and a Decreased Pro-inflammatory Tissue Response to a Newly Developed Pericardium-based Barrier Membrane for Guided Bone Regeneration

“…Macrophages (and also BMGCs) have been shown to express both pro-and anti-inflammatory molecules, depending on material factors such as surface topography or surface chemistry (33)(34)(35). Based on the expression of certain molecular markers, macrophages are more or less divided into pro-inflammatory M1-and anti-inflammatory M2 subtypes (36,37).…”