Reduction in complement activation from biomaterials by removal of air nuclei from the surface roughness

Abstract

The activation of the rabbit complement system by each of three different synthetic materials is reported. Samples of each type of material were subjected to one of two different priming procedures. One priming procedure was intended to remove the air nuclei from the surface roughness of the materials; the other procedure was just the normal one. It was found that the removal of the air nuclei during priming reduced the complement activation by each of the two materials of lower surface tension, but not by a statistically significant amount for the material of highest surface tension, cellophane. For the denucleated samples of the three materials, the amount of complement activation was found to correlate with the critical surface tension of the materials; if the samples of the materials were normally primed, there was no correlation of the amount of complement activation with the critical surface tension of the material.

Complement deposition from human sera on silicon surfaces studied in situ by ellipsometry. The influence of surface wettability

“…Ward et al showed that solid surface energy, regardless of the chemical composition, is of importance for the release of C5a in plasma [5]. Theyobserved, however, that the largest C5a release was detected in plasma that had been in contact with the most hydrophilic surface.…”

“…It has been suggested that the inert polymeric surfaces in the extracorporeal devices cause the unwanted complement activation [4]. A recent study by Ward et al showed that surface wettability may be a physical parameter of importance for complement activation [5]. Their study, using polytetrafluorethylene, silicon rubber and cellophane as substrates and measuring complement activation by C5a release in plasma, showed an increased activation with increased surface wettability.…”

Inflammatory Response to Polymeric Materials

“…The modest effect which was found was attributed to the presence of a large blood-gas interface. Such an effect of air bubbles had already been documented by Ward et al (1984).…”

Investigation of the activation of a human serum complement protein, C3, by orthopedic prosthetic particulates

“…Surface flaws could also contribute to complement activation by trapping air bubbles [19]. Prior studies demonstrated [20] that denucleation of silicone catheters to eliminate surface microbubbles significantly reduced the amount of C3a and C5a produced during incubation in plasma.…”