Alterations in Mobility, Survival and Synchrony of Cell Division Close to Biodegradable Iron. Multidimensional Microscopy Analysis Without Use of Stains

Abstract

The interactions between macrophages and bioabsorbable metals during their degradation may lead to altered functions of these cells. The evaluation of this impact vivo is tricky and the use of cell cultures is a preliminary valuable model. In the Fe-biodegradation case, the system is complex because Fe-containing materials may lead to corrosion products of different composition and solubility. Thus, a meticulous study about interactions between macrophages and Fe-based materials, without using staining to avoid its non-desired effects, is proposed here. Multidimensional microscopy was applied to obtain images of unstained macrophages (J774A.1) exposed to Feo rings. Images were taken every 15 min between 24-48h of exposure. For the first time for this system software tools for single-cell tracking (TrackMate - FIJI) was applied for the analysis of the spatiotemporal dependence of different parameters. As metal degrades, macrophages capture and accumulate the degradation products as a dark insoluble material. Significant changes in macrophage morphology, motility, synchrony of duplications and in survival of cells, according to the distance to the metal, were noticed. They account for the deep impact of Fe-degradation products on the macrophages close to the Fe-containing implant.