Topographical control of human macrophages by a regularly microstructured polyvinylidene fluoride surface.

In this study we investigated the influence of surface topography on the inflammatory response of human macrophages. We generated different polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) surfaces including (i) a smooth surface of PVDF spherulites as a control, (ii) a randomly nanotextured surface with alumina particles, and (iii) a microstructure using laser ablation. The identical chemistry of all PVDF surfaces was demonstrated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Immobilized DNA aptamers used as potent attractors for porcine endothelial precursor cells.

Because of their insufficient biocompatibility and high thrombogenicity, small diameter artificial vascular prostheses still do not show a satisfactory patency rate. In vitro endothelialization of artificial grafts before implantation has been established experimentally years ago, but, this procedure is extremely time consuming and expensive. This study deals with the coating of graft surfaces with capture molecules (aptamers) for circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), mimicking a prohoming substrate to fish out EPCs from the bloodstream after implantation and to create an autologous functional endothelium.

Influence of different ECM mimetic peptide sequences embedded in a nonfouling environment on the specific adhesion of human-skin keratinocytes and fibroblasts on deformable substrates.

Mechanical stress is a decisive factor for the differentiation, proliferation, and general behavior of cells. However, the specific signaling of mechanotransduction is not fully understood. One basic problem is the clear distinction between the different extracellular matrix (ECM) constituents that participate in cellular adhesion and their corresponding signaling pathways.