@article{BrauneFroehlichLendleinetal.2016, author = {Braune, Steffen and Froehlich, G. M. and Lendlein, Andreas and Jung, Friedrich}, title = {Effect of temperature on platelet adherence}, series = {Clinical hemorheology and microcirculation : blood flow and vessels}, volume = {61}, journal = {Clinical hemorheology and microcirculation : blood flow and vessels}, publisher = {IOS Press}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1386-0291}, doi = {10.3233/CH-152028}, pages = {681 -- 688}, year = {2016}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Thrombogenicity is one of the main parameters tested in vitro to evaluate the hemocompatibility of artificial surfaces. While the influence of the temperature on platelet aggregation has been addressed by several studies, the temperature influence on the adherence of platelets to body foreign surfaces as an important aspect of biomedical device handling has not yet been explored. Therefore, we analyzed the influence of two typically applied incubation-temperatures (22 degrees C and 37 degrees C) on the adhesion of platelets to biomaterials. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thrombogenicity of three different polymers - medical grade poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) - were studied in an in vitro static test. Platelet adhesion was studied with stringently characterized blood from apparently healthy subjects. Collection of whole blood and preparation of platelet rich plasma (PRP) was carried out at room temperature (22 degrees C). PRP was incubated with the polymers either at 22 degrees C or 37 degrees C. Surface adherent platelets were fixed, fluorescently labelled and assessed by an image-based approach. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Differences in the density of adherent platelets after incubation at 22 degrees C and 37 degrees C occurred on PDMS and PET. Similar levels of adherent platelets were observed on the very thrombogenic PTFE. The covered surface areas per single platelet were analyzed to measure the state of platelet activation and revealed no differences between the two incubation temperatures for any of the analyzed polymers. Irrespective of the observed differences between the low and medium thrombogenic PDMS and PET and the higher variability at 22 degrees C, the thrombogenicity of the three investigated polymers was evaluated being comparable at both incubation temperatures.}, language = {en} } @article{KruegerGengeBrauneWalteretal.2018, author = {Kr{\"u}ger-Genge, A. and Braune, S. and Walter, M. and Krengel, M. and Kratz, K. and K{\"u}pper, J. H. and Lendlein, Andreas and Jung, Friedrich}, title = {Influence of different surface treatments of poly(n-butyl acrylate) networks on fibroblasts adhesion, morphology and viability}, series = {Clinical hemorheology and microcirculation : blood flow and vessels}, volume = {69}, journal = {Clinical hemorheology and microcirculation : blood flow and vessels}, number = {1-2}, publisher = {IOS Press}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1386-0291}, doi = {10.3233/CH-189130}, pages = {305 -- 316}, year = {2018}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Physical and chemical characteristics of implant materials determine the fate of long-term cardiovascular devices. However, there is still a lack of fundamental understanding of the molecular mechanisms occurring in the material-tissue interphase. In a previous study, soft covalently crosslinked poly(n-butyl acrylate) networks (cPnBA) were introduced as sterilizable, non-toxic and immuno-compatible biomaterials with mechanical properties adjustable to blood vessels. Here we study the influence of different surface treatments in particular oxygen plasma modification and fibrinogen deposition as well as a combinatorial approach on the adhesion and viability of fibroblasts. RESULTS: Compared to non-treated cPnBAs the advancing water-contact angles were found to be reduced after all surface modifications (p<0.05, each), while lowest values were observed after the combined surface treatment (OPT+FIB). The latter differed significantly from the single OPT and FIB. The number of adherent fibroblasts and their adherence behavior differed on both pristine cPnBA networks. The fibroblast density on cPnBA04 was 743 +/- 434 cells. mm(-2), was about 6.5 times higher than on cPnBA73 with 115 +/- 73 cells. mm(-2). On cPnBA04 about 20\% of the cells were visible as very small, round and buckled cells while all other cells were in a migrating status. On cPnBA73, nearly 50\% of fibroblasts were visible as very small, round and buckled cells. The surface functionalization either using oxygen plasma treatment or fibrinogen coating led to a significant increase of adherent fibroblasts, particularly the combination of both techniques, for both cPnBA networks. It is noteworthy to mention that the fibrinogen coating overruled the characteristics of the pristine surfaces; here, the fibroblast densities after seeding were identical for both cPnBAnetworks. Thus, the binding rather depended on the fibrinogen coating than on the substrate characteristics anymore. While the integrity of the fibroblasts membrane was comparable for both polymers, the MTS tests showed a decreased metabolic activity of the fibroblasts on cPnBA. CONCLUSION: The applied surface treatments of cPnBA successfully improved the adhesion of viable fibroblasts. Under resting conditions as well as after shearing the highest fibroblast densities were found on surfaces with combined post-treatment.}, language = {en} } @article{NeffeLoebusZaupaetal.2011, author = {Neffe, Axel T. and Loebus, Axel and Zaupa, Alessandro and St{\"o}tzel, Christian and M{\"u}ller, Frank A. and Lendlein, Andreas}, title = {Gelatin functionalization with tyrosine derived moieties to increase the interaction with hydroxyapatite fillers}, series = {Acta biomaterialia}, volume = {7}, journal = {Acta biomaterialia}, number = {4}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {1742-7061}, doi = {10.1016/j.actbio.2010.11.025}, pages = {1693 -- 1701}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Combining gelatins functionalized with the tyrosine-derived groups desaminotyrosine or desaminotyrosyl tyrosine with hydroxyapatite (HAp) led to the formation of composite materials with much lower swelling ratios than those of the pure matrices. Shifts of the infra-red (IR) bands related to the free carboxyl groups could be observed in the presence of HAp, which suggested a direct interaction of matrix and filler that formed additional physical cross-links in the material. In tensile tests and rheological measurements the composites equilibrated in water had increased Young's moduli (from 200 kPa up to 2 MPa) and tensile strengths (from 57 kPa up to 1.1 MPa) compared with the matrix polymers without affecting the elongation at break. Furthermore, an increased thermal stability of the networks from 40 to 85 degrees C could be demonstrated. The differences in the behaviour of the functionalized gelatins compared with pure gelatin as a matrix suggested an additional stabilizing bond between the incorporated aromatic groups and the HAp as supported by the IR results. The composites can potentially be applied as bone fillers.}, language = {en} } @article{PilusoHieblGorbetal.2011, author = {Piluso, Susanna and Hiebl, Bernhard and Gorb, Stanislav N. and Kovalev, Alexander and Lendlein, Andreas and Neffe, Axel T.}, title = {Hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels crosslinked by copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition with tailorable mechanical properties}, series = {The international journal of artificial organs}, volume = {34}, journal = {The international journal of artificial organs}, number = {2}, publisher = {Wichtig}, address = {Milano}, issn = {0391-3988}, doi = {10.5301/IJAO.2011.6394}, pages = {192 -- 197}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Biopolymers of the extracellular matrix are attractive starting materials for providing degradable and biocompatible biomaterials. In this study, hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties were prepared by the use of copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (known as "click chemistry"). Alkyne-functionalized hyaluronic acid was crosslinked with linkers having two terminal azide functionalities, varying crosslinker density as well as the lengths and rigidity of the linker molecules. By variation of the crosslinker density and crosslinker type, hydrogels with elastic moduli in the range of 0.5-4 kPa were prepared. The washed materials contained a maximum of 6.8 mg copper per kg dry weight and the eluate of the gel crosslinked with diazidostilbene did not show toxic effects on L929 cells. The hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels have potential as biomaterials for cell culture or soft tissue regeneration applications.}, language = {en} } @misc{ReicheKratzHofmannetal.2011, author = {Reiche, J{\"u}rgen and Kratz, Karl and Hofmann, Dieter and Lendlein, Andreas}, title = {Current status of Langmuir monolayer degradation of polymeric biomaterials}, series = {The international journal of artificial organs}, volume = {34}, journal = {The international journal of artificial organs}, number = {2}, publisher = {Wichtig}, address = {Milano}, issn = {0391-3988}, doi = {10.5301/IJAO.2011.6401}, pages = {123 -- 128}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Langmuir monolayer degradation (LMD) experiments with polymers possessing outstanding biomedical application potential yield information regarding the kinetics of their hydrolytic or enzymatic chain scission under well-defined and adjustable degradation conditions. A brief review is given of LMD investigations, including the author's own work on 2-dimensional (2D) polymer systems, providing chain scission data, which are not disturbed by simultaneously occurring transport phenomena, such as water penetration into the sample or transport of scission fragments out of the sample. A knowledge-based approach for the description and simulation of polymer hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation based on a combination of fast LMD experiments and computer simulation of the water penetration is briefly introduced. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of this approach are discussed.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Vacogne2016, author = {Vacogne, Charlotte D.}, title = {New synthetic routes towards well-defined polypeptides, morphologies and hydrogels}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-396366}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {xii, 175}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Proteins are natural polypeptides produced by cells; they can be found in both animals and plants, and possess a variety of functions. One of these functions is to provide structural support to the surrounding cells and tissues. For example, collagen (which is found in skin, cartilage, tendons and bones) and keratin (which is found in hair and nails) are structural proteins. When a tissue is damaged, however, the supporting matrix formed by structural proteins cannot always spontaneously regenerate. Tailor-made synthetic polypeptides can be used to help heal and restore tissue formation. Synthetic polypeptides are typically synthesized by the so-called ring opening polymerization (ROP) of α-amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides (NCA). Such synthetic polypeptides are generally non-sequence-controlled and thus less complex than proteins. As such, synthetic polypeptides are rarely as efficient as proteins in their ability to self-assemble and form hierarchical or structural supramolecular assemblies in water, and thus, often require rational designing. In this doctoral work, two types of amino acids, γ-benzyl-L/D-glutamate (BLG / BDG) and allylglycine (AG), were selected to synthesize a series of (co)polypeptides of different compositions and molar masses. A new and versatile synthetic route to prepare polypeptides was developed, and its mechanism and kinetics were investigated. The polypeptide properties were thoroughly studied and new materials were developed from them. In particular, these polypeptides were able to aggregate (or self-assemble) in solution into microscopic fibres, very similar to those formed by collagen. By doing so, they formed robust physical networks and organogels which could be processed into high water-content, pH-responsive hydrogels. Particles with highly regular and chiral spiral morphologies were also obtained by emulsifying these polypeptides. Such polypeptides and the materials derived from them are, therefore, promising candidates for biomedical applications.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Zaupa2010, author = {Zaupa, Alessandro}, title = {Physical crosslinking of gelatin : a supramolecular approach to biomaterials}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-52888}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2010}, abstract = {This work describes the realization of physically crosslinked networks based on gelatin by the introduction of functional groups enabling specific supramolecular interactions. Molecular models were developed in order to predict the material properties and permit to establish a knowledge-based approach to material design. The effect of additional supramolecular interactions with hydroxyapaptite was then studied in composite materials. The calculated properties are compared to experimental results to validate the models. The models are then further used for the study of physically crosslinked networks. Gelatin was functionalized with desaminotyrosine (DAT) and desaminotyrosyl-tyrosine (DATT) side groups, derived from the natural amino acid tyrosine. These group can potentially undergo to π-π and hydrogen bonding interactions also under physiological conditions. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed on models with 0.8 wt.-\% or 25 wt.-\% water content, using the second generation forcefield CFF91. The validation of the models was obtained by the comparison with specific experimental data such as, density, peptide conformational angles and X-ray scattering spectra. The models were then used to predict the supramolecular organization of the polymer chain, analyze the formation of physical netpoints and calculate the mechanical properties. An important finding of simulation was that with the increase of aromatic groups also the number of observed physical netpoints increased. The number of relatively stable physical netpoints, on average zero 0 for natural gelatin, increased to 1 and 6 for DAT and DATT functionalized gelatins respectively. A comparison with the Flory-Rehner model suggested reduced equilibrium swelling by factor 6 of the DATT-functionalized materials in water. The functionalized gelatins could be synthesized by chemoselective coupling of the free carboxylic acid groups of DAT and DATT to the free amino groups of gelatin. At 25 wt.-\% water content, the simulated and experimentally determined elastic mechanical properties (e.g. Young Modulus) were both in the order of GPa and were not influenced by the degree of aromatic modification. The experimental equilibrium degree of swelling in water decreased with increasing the number of inserted aromatic functions (from 2800 vol.-\% for pure gelatin to 300 vol.-\% for the DATT modified gelatin), at the same time, Young's modulus, elongation at break, and maximum tensile strength increased. It could be show that the functionalization with DAT and DATT influences the chain organization of gelatin based materials together with a controlled drying condition. Functionalization with DAT and DATT lead to a drastic reduction of helical renaturation, that could be more finely controlled by the applied drying conditions. The properties of the materials could then be influenced by application of two independent methods. Composite materials of DAT and DATT functionalized gelatins with hydroxyapatite (HAp) show a drastic reduction of swelling degree. In tensile tests and rheological measurements, the composites equilibrated in water had increased Young's moduli (from 200 kPa up to 2 MPa) and tensile strength (from 57 kPa up to 1.1 MPa) compared to the natural polymer matrix without affecting the elongation at break. Furthermore, an increased thermal stability from 40 °C to 85 °C of the networks could be demonstrated. The differences of the behaviour of the functionalized gelatins to pure gelatin as matrix suggested an additional stabilizing bond between the incorporated aromatic groups to the hydroxyapatite.}, language = {en} }