Albumin-derived perfluorodecalin-based hybrid systems with developed effective surfaces aimed at biomedical application

Abstract

The study aims to approach a coating layer based on alginate functionalized with albumin nanocoated oxygenating factor, constituting a safe and even contact surface with epithelial cells in system components for medical devices to support maintaining the human lung cells’ function. The alginate coating layer with incorporated albumin-coated oxygenating element was designed (ALG_Alb-PFD). As an oxygenating factor, perfluorodecalin was applied at three saturation levels with oxygen: 0%, 21%, and 100%. The studies were performed on human adenocarcinoma A549 cell lines derived from human lung epithelial cells cultured in configuration with the designed coatings. Scanning electron microscopy, flow cytometry, and fluorescence microscopy were applied to evaluate cell function and the system morphology. AFM and SEM-EDX characterized the coating layer material. The designed coating ensured the viability of human lung cells cultured on the coating layer during 10 days of culture. An oxygenating factor presence was confirmed by SEM-EDX analysis of the ALG_Alb-PFD. However, no significant discrepancies were noted between the coatings with different saturation levels after 10 days of culture. Moreover, the AFM-analyzed profiles of the coating surface confirmed/indicated the formation of additional elements in the coating due to using an oxygenating element, which increases the effective contact area with cells. The platform based on alginate with the developed surface of contact of oxygenating factor incorporated within the coating layer ensures the sustained growth and morphology of the human lung cells, which can be considered a therapeutic element of system components of medical devices for maintaining human lung cells’ function.