eCM (Eur Cell Mater / e Cells & Materials) eCM Open Access Scientific Journal
 ISSN:1473-2262         NLM:100973416 (link)         DOI:10.22203/eCM

2015   Volume No 29 – pages 177-189

Title: Osteoblasts with impaired spreading capacity benefit from the positive charges of plasma polymerised allylamine

Author: F Kunz, H Rebl, A Quade, C Matschegewski, B Finke, JB Nebe

Address: University Medical Centre Rostock, Department of Cell Biology, Schillingallee 69, 18057 Rostock, Germany

E-mail: barbara.nebe at med.uni-rostock.de

Key Words: Osteoblast function, actin cytoskeleton, vinculin, spreading, cytochalasin D, titanium, surface modification, plasma polymerised allylamine, surface charge.

Publication date: March 4th 2015

Abstract: Bone diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, impinge on the performance of orthopaedic implants by impairing bone regeneration. For this reason, the development of effective surface modifications supporting the ingrowth of implants in morbid bone tissue is essential. Our study is designed to elucidate if cells with restricted cell-function limiting adhesion processes benefit from plasma polymer deposition on titanium. We used the actin filament disrupting agent cytochalasin D (CD) as an experimental model for cells with impaired actin cytoskeleton. Indeed, the cell’s capacity to adhere and spread was drastically reduced due to shortened actin filaments and vinculin contacts that were smaller. The coating of titanium with a positively charged nanolayer of plasma polymerised allylamine (PPAAm) abrogated these disadvantages in cell adhesion and the CD-treated osteoblasts were able to spread significantly. Interestingly, PPAAm increased spreading by causing enhanced vinculin number and contact length, but without significantly reorganising actin filaments. PPAAm with the monomer allylamine was deposited in a microwave-excited low-pressure plasma-processing reactor. Cell physiology was monitored by flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy, and the length and number of actin filaments was quantified by mathematical image processing. We showed that biomaterial surface modification with PPAAm could be beneficial even for osteoblasts with impaired cytoskeleton components. These insights into in vitro conditions may be used for the evaluation of future strategies to design implants for morbid bone tissue.

Article download: Pages 177-189 (PDF file)
DOI: 10.22203/eCM.v029a13