title: On the tissue compatibility of poly(ether imide) membranes: an in vitro study on their interaction with human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes.
abstract: Recently we have developed a novel type of membrane based on poly(ether imide) (PEI) which is considered for biomedical application. To improve its physical and biological performance it was modified by blending with poly(benzimidazole) (PBI). In the present study both membranes were characterized in terms of their physicochemical properties and in vitro tissue compatibility using human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes. The modified membrane (PEI*) was more hydrophilic, less porous and had an increased surface (zeta) potential. We further found that blending with PBI tends to promote cell contact, at least initially, as indicated by the improved overall cell morphology, adhesion and spreading of fibroblasts, and the development of focal adhesion complexes. The effects of fibronectin (FN) and serum coating were also beneficial when compared to pure PEI and tissue culture polystyrene (TCP), which correlates to a higher adsorption of both FN and vitronectin detected by ELISA. However, a clear tendency for homotypic cellular interaction particularly of keratinocytes was obtained in contact with membranes, which was much stronger pronounced on PEI*. Although the initial adhesion was greater on PEI*, a surprising decrease in cell growth was observed at later stages of incubation, which may be explained with the membrane-promoted cellular aggregation leading to an easier detachment from the substratum. Thus, membranes based on blends of PEI with PBI could provide a tissue compatible scaffold with lowered adhesive properties, which might be a useful tool for the transfer of cells, for example, to in vitro engineered tissue constructs.
authors.affiliation: GKSS Research Center, Institute of Chemistry, Kantstrasse 55, D-14513 Teltow, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Altankov
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Richau
authors.forename: Th
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Groth
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lendlein
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000327:Adsorption; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001706:Biopsy; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D046508:Culture Techniques; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D022001:Focal Adhesions; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019096:Vitronectin / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005353:Fibronectins; D011108:Polymers; D019096:Vitronectin; C433673:polyetherimide; D014867:Water