Analysis of cellular morphology, adhesion, and proliferation on uncoated and differently coated PVC tubes used in extracorporeal circulation (ECC).
The biggest challenge to improve extracorporeal circulation (ECC) circuits lays on avoiding platelet adhesion to their surfaces, because this contributes to thrombus formation, resulting in the activation of blood coagulation. One approach to minimize this effect is to improve the biocompatibility of ECC circuits by modifying their surfaces. This can be achieved by coating them with heparin or phospholipids. The present study investigated the adhesion and morphology characteristics of fibroblastic and blood cells cultured on uncoated poly (vinyl) chloride PVC tubes as well as on heparin, phosphatidylcholine (DMPC), and phosphatidylethanolamine (DMPE) -coated tubing. The results showed the importance of uniform coating regardless of the substance used, because the coatings cover the grooves on PVC surfaces, which favor cell adhesion. The comparison among the three different coatings showed the best biocompatibility results for the PVC tubes coated with heparin, followed by the coating with DMPE and with DMPC. For all coated tubes, cells did not spread on the PVC surfaces and, consequently, did not adhere to their surfaces, increasing the overall biocompatibility of PVC tubes. However, possible DMPE's alkylation, caused by sterilization, resulted in increased material hydrophobicity, which explains the decrease in fibroblastic adhesion. Furthermore, sterilization of DMPC-PVC improves its hydrophilic character, also decreasing adhesion. Based on these results, coating PVC with the phospholipids DMPC and DMPE seems to be a promising technique to improve the biocompatibility of PVC tubes, and is worthy of further investigation.
Moreira
Patrícia da Luz
Pda L
Department of Cellular Biology, Institute of Biology, P.O. Box 6109, State University of Campinas, Campinas-SP, 13084-971, Brazil. plm@obelix.unicamp.br
Marreco
Paula Rulf
PR
Moraes
Angela Maria
AM
Wada
Maria Lúcia Furlan
ML
Genari
Selma Candelária
SC
D000818:Animals; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008940:Mitotic Index; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride / Q000737:chemistry*; D014709:Vero Cells
D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride