Fibronectin coating of oxygenator membranes enhances endothelial cell attachment.
BACKGROUND
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can replace the lungs' gas exchange capacity in refractory lung failure. However, its limited hemocompatibility, the activation of the coagulation and complement system as well as plasma leakage and protein deposition hamper mid- to long-term use and have constrained the development of an implantable lung assist device. In a tissue engineering approach, lining the blood contact surfaces of the ECMO device with endothelial cells might overcome these limitations. As a first step towards this aim, we hypothesized that coating the oxygenator's gas exchange membrane with proteins might positively influence the attachment and proliferation of arterial endothelial cells.


METHODS
Sheets of polypropylene (PP), polyoxymethylpentene (TPX) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), typical material used for oxygenator gas exchange membranes, were coated with collagen, fibrinogen, gelatin or fibronectin. Tissue culture treated well plates served as controls. Endothelial cell attachment and proliferation were analyzed for a period of 4 days by microscopic examination and computer assisted cell counting.


RESULTS
Endothelial cell seeding efficiency is within range of tissue culture treated controls for fibronectin treated surfaces only. Uncoated membranes as well as all other coatings lead to lower cell attachment. A confluent endothelial cell layer develops on fibronectin coated PDMS and the control surface only.


CONCLUSIONS
Fibronectin increases endothelial cells' seeding efficiency on different oxygenator membrane material. PDMS coated with fibronectin shows sustained cell attachment for a period of four days in static culture conditions.
Department for Tissue Engineering & Textile Implants, Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute of the RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Pauwelsstraße 20, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
Christian G
CG
Cornelissen
Maren
M
Dietrich
Kai
K
Gromann
Julia
J
Frese
Stefan
S
Krueger
Jörg S
JS
Sachweh
Stefan
S
Jockenhoevel
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000379:methods; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000737:chemistry; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000737:chemistry*; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry; D010107:Oxygenators, Membrane; D011126:Polypropylenes / Q000737:chemistry; D012756:Sheep; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D005353:Fibronectins; D011126:Polypropylenes; D005780:Gelatin; D005340:Fibrinogen; D003094:Collagen