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Adhesion Studies (adhesion + studies)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Polymers and Materials Science	50%

Selected Abstracts

Antheraea assama Silk Fibroin-Based Functional Scaffold with Enhanced Blood Compatibility for Tissue Engineering Applications,

ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 5 2010
Naresh Kasoju
Abstract The architecture and surface chemistry of a scaffold determine its utility in tissue engineering (TE). Conventional techniques have limitations in fabricating a scaffold with control over both architecture and surface chemistry. To ameliorate this, in this report, we demonstrate the fabrication of an Antheraea assama silk fibroin (AASF)-based functional scaffold. AASF is a non-mulberry variety having superior qualities to mulberry SF and is largely unexplored in the context of TE. First, a 3D scaffold with biomimetic architecture is fabricated. The scaffold is subsequently made blood compatible by modifying the surface chemistry through a simple sulfation reaction. EDX and FTIR analysis demonstrate the successful sulfation of the scaffold. SEM observations reveal that sulfation has no any effect on the scaffold architecture. TGA reveals that it has increased thermal stability. The sulfation reaction significantly improves the overall hydrophilicity of the scaffold, as is evident from the increase in water holding capacity; this possibly enhances the blood compatibility. The enhancement in blood compatibility of the sulfated scaffold is determined from in vitro haemolysis, protein adsorption and platelet adhesion studies. The sulfated scaffold is non-toxic and supports cell adhesion and growth, as revealed by indirect and direct contact-based in vitro cytotoxicity assays. This study reveals that the AASF-based functional scaffold, which has biomimetic architecture and blood-compatible surface chemistry, could be suitable for TE applications. [source]

Patterned Hydrogels for Controlled Platelet Adhesion from Whole Blood and Plasma

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 15 2010
Tobias Ekblad
Abstract This work describes the preparation and properties of hydrogel surface chemistries enabling controlled and well-defined cell adhesion. The hydrogels may be prepared directly on plastic substrates, such as polystyrene slides or dishes, using a quick and experimentally simple photopolymerization process, compatible with photolithographic and microfluidic patterning methods. The intended application for these materials is as substrates for diagnostic cell adhesion assays, particularly for the analysis of human platelet function. The non-specific adsorption of fibrinogen, a platelet adhesion promoting protein, is shown to be completely inhibited by the hydrogel, provided that the film thickness is sufficient (>5,nm). This allows the hydrogel to be used as a matrix for presenting selected bioactive ligands without risking interference from non-specifically adsorbed platelet adhesion factors, even in undiluted whole blood and blood plasma. This concept is demonstrated by preparing patterns of proteins on hydrogel surfaces, resulting in highly controlled platelet adhesion. Further insights into the protein immobilization and platelet adhesion processes are provided by studies using imaging surface plasmon resonance. The hydrogel surfaces used in this work appear to provide an ideal platform for cell adhesion studies of platelets, and potentially also for other cell types. [source]

PROBING THE SURFACE OF LIVING DIATOMS WITH ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY: THE NANOSTRUCTURE AND NANOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MUCILAGE LAYER,

JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 4 2003
Michael J. Higgins
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is used to investigate the topography and material properties of the mucilage layer of live cells of three benthic diatoms, the marine species Crasepdostauros australis E. J. Cox and Nitzschia navis-varingica Lundholm et Moestrup and the freshwater species Pinnularia viridis (Nitzsch) Ehrenberg. Contrary to previous studies, we show that this surface mucilage layer displays unique nanostructural features. In C. australis, tapping mode images revealed a soft mucilage layer encasing the silica cell wall, consisting of a smooth flat surface that was interrupted by regions with groove-like indentations, whereas force measurements revealed the adhesive binding of polymer chains. The elastic responses of these polymer chains, as they were stretched during force measurements, were successfully fitted to the worm-like chain model, indicating the stretching of mostly single macromolecules from which quantitative information was extracted. In P. viridis, tapping mode images of cells revealed a mucilage layer that had the appearance of densely packed spheres, whereas force measurements exhibited no adhesion. In N. navis-varingica, tapping mode images of the outer surface of this cell in the girdle region revealed the absence of a mucilage layer, in contrast to the other two species. In addition to these topographic and adhesion studies, the first quantitative measurement of the elastic properties of microalgal extracellular polymeric substance is presented and reveals significant spatial variation in the C. australis and P. viridis mucilage layers. This study highlights the capacity of AFM in elucidating the topography and mechanical properties of hydrated microalgal extracellular polymeric substance on a nanoscale. [source]

Association of the antagonism of von Willebrand factor but not fibrinogen by platelet ,IIb,3 antagonists with prolongation of bleeding time

JOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 10 2005
T. AOKI
Summary.,Background:,The ,IIb,3 antagonists inhibit platelet aggregation and are used as antithrombotic agents for cardiothrombotic disease. The present study investigates the correlation of inhibition of fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor (VWF) binding by ,IIb,3 antagonists with the inhibition of platelet aggregation and prolongation of bleeding time (BT). Methods:,Inhibition of fibrinogen and VWF binding were assessed in a purified ,IIb,3 -binding assay. As an in vitro cell-based assay, platelet aggregation and VWF-mediated adhesion studies were performed using human platelets. In vivo effects on BT were measured using a template device in dogs at the same time as an ex vivo aggregation study was performed. Results:,In vitro studies demonstrated that the antiaggregatory effects of ,IIb,3 antagonists correlate with their inhibition of fibrinogen binding, but not VWF. Interestingly, the effects of ,IIb,3 antagonists on BT could be differentiated from the inhibition of platelet aggregation. Furthermore, this differentiation was strongly correlated with the different inhibitory potencies between fibrinogen and VWF binding, as well as that between VWF-mediated adhesion and aggregation. Conclusions:,Our study provides novel evidence showing that the inhibitory effect of ,IIb,3 antagonists on VWF, but not fibrinogen binding, correlates with their ability to prolong BT. [source]