title: A review on macrophage responses to biomaterials.
abstract: Macrophages are the dominant infiltrating cells that respond rapidly to biomaterial implantation in soft and hard tissues. These cells and their fused morphologic variants, multinucleated giant cells or foreign body giant cells, usually remain at biomaterial-tissue interfaces for the lifetime of the device in vivo. As a component of the immune system, macrophage activities are closely related to immune responses, inflammation and foreign body responses. However, macrophages also mediate biodegradation of bioresorbable materials via phagocytosis and extracellular degradation. In addition, macrophages are essential for effective tissue regeneration as they regulate the recruitment, proliferation and differentiation of target cells, such as fibroblasts, osteoblasts, endothelial cells and keratinocytes during healing processes.
authors.affiliation: Botnar Research Centre, Institute of Musculoskeletal Sciences, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Oxford, NOC, Headington, Oxford OX3 7LD UK. zhidao.xia@ndos.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: Zhidao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: James T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Triffitt
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials