title: Concentrated polymer brushes do not induce the expression of inflammatory and angiogeneic genes in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  When polymer brushes are applied as the inner coating for artificial blood vessels, they may induce unwanted responses in vascular endothelial cells continuously exposed to the polymer surface. Accordingly, we have examined the in vitro effect of non-biofouling concentrated polymer brushes (CPBs) on pro-inflammatory and angiogenic responses of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Micro-patterned CPBs were prepared on silicon wafers using biocompatible polymers, poly(poly(ethylene glycol)methyl ether methacrylate) (PPEGMA) and poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA). HUVECs were cultured on PPEGMA-CPBs and PHEMA-CPBs with different channel widths (20, 50, and 80 µm) and analyzed for mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 and angiogeneic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Irrespective of channel width, PHEMA-CPBs reduced the expression of all target genes, whereas PPEGMA-CPBs reduced VEGF and did not affect IL-6 and IL-8 levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Micro-patterned CPBs, irrespective of chemical structure or adhesion area, do not induce the expression of important pro-inflammatory and angiogenic mediators in endothelial cells.
authors.affiliation: World Premier International Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0047, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.affiliation: World Premier International Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0047, Japan. yoshikawa.chiaki@nims.go.jp.
authors.forename: Chiaki
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.affiliation: World Premier International Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0047, Japan.
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: DSM Ahead, P.O. Box 18, 6160 MD, Geleen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: DSM Biomedical, P.O. Box 18, 6160 MD, Geleen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van den Bosch
mesh_terms: D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D011108:Polymers / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers
keywords: Concentrated polymer brush; Gene expression; Human umbilical vein endothelial cell; Polymer brush; Surface-initiated living radical polymerization