Abstract
Uncontrolled protein adsorption and cell binding to biomaterial surfaces may lead to degradation, implant failure, infection, and deleterious inflammatory and immune responses. The accurate characterization of biofouling is therefore crucial for the optimization of biomaterials and devices that interface with complex biological environments composed of macromolecules, fluids, and cells. Currently, a diverse array of experimental conditions and characterization techniques are utilized, making it difficult to compare reported fouling values between similar or different biomaterials. This review aims to help scientists and engineers appreciate current limitations and conduct fouling experiments to facilitate the comparison of reported values and expedite the development of low-fouling materials. Recent advancements in the understanding of protein–interface interactions and fouling variability due to experiment conditions will be highlighted to discuss protein adsorption and cell adhesion and activation on biomaterial surfaces.
Highlights
In vitro biofouling characterization is crucial for the discovery of materials for medical implants and other blood or tissue contacting devices
This review aims to help scientists and engineers appreciate current limitations and conduct fouling experiments to facilitate the comparison of reported values and expedite the development of low-fouling materials
Protein interactions with biomaterial surfaces can lead to thrombus formation (Gorbet and Sefton, 2004), degradation of performance (Xie et al, 2018), and cell adhesion, where the identity (Swartzlander et al, 2015; Vu et al, 2019) and state of adsorbed proteins dictate downstream cell responses (Veiseh and Vegas, 2019)
Summary
In vitro biofouling characterization is crucial for the discovery of materials for medical implants and other blood or tissue contacting devices. The following will discuss the unwanted biological outcomes from biofouling, interactions of proteins and cells with material interfaces as a function of experimental conditions, and fouling characterization techniques, all with respect to prominent biomaterial applications. Surfaces of implanted and biofluid contacting materials are subject to interactions with biological macromolecules, cells, and tissues (Anderson et al, 2008). Left uncontrolled, these interactions can lead to deleterious inflammatory responses, infections (Busscher et al, 2012), implant failures (Trindade et al, 2014), and loss of material performance. Protein interactions with biomaterial surfaces can lead to thrombus formation (Gorbet and Sefton, 2004), degradation of performance (Xie et al, 2018), and cell adhesion, where the identity (Swartzlander et al, 2015; Vu et al, 2019) and state of adsorbed proteins dictate downstream cell responses (Veiseh and Vegas, 2019)
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