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Adhesion of Human U937 Monocytes to Nitrogen-Rich Organic Thin Films: Novel Insights into the Mechanism of Cellular Adhesion

  1. Pierre-Luc Girard-Lauriault1,
  2. Florina Truica-Marasescu1,
  3. Alain Petit2,
  4. Hong T. Wang2,
  5. Patrick Desjardins1,
  6. John Antoniou2,
  7. Fackson Mwale2,*,
  8. Michael R. Wertheimer1,*

Article first published online: 26 MAY 2009

DOI: 10.1002/mabi.200800359

Issue

Macromolecular Bioscience

Macromolecular Bioscience

Volume 9, Issue 9, pages 911–921, September 9, 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Girard-Lauriault, P.-L., Truica-Marasescu, F., Petit, A., Wang, H. T., Desjardins, P., Antoniou, J., Mwale, F. and Wertheimer, M. R. (2009), Adhesion of Human U937 Monocytes to Nitrogen-Rich Organic Thin Films: Novel Insights into the Mechanism of Cellular Adhesion. Macromolecular Bioscience, 9: 911–921. doi: 10.1002/mabi.200800359

Author Information

  1. 1

    Groupe de Recherche en Physique et Technologie des Couches Minces (GCM) and Department of Engineering Physics, École Polytechnique de Montréal, P.O. Box 6079, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal QC H3C 3A7, Canada

  2. 2

    Division for Orthopaedic Surgery, McGill University, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, SMBD – Jewish General Hospital, 3755 Chemin de la Côte Ste Catherine, Montréal QC H3T 1E2, Canada

*Division for Orthopaedic Surgery, McGill University, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, SMBD – Jewish General Hospital, 3755 Chemin de la Côte Ste Catherine, Montréal QC H3T 1E2, Canada. Fax: +1 514 340 7505.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 27 AUG 2009
  2. Article first published online: 26 MAY 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 18 MAR 2009
  4. Manuscript Revised: 13 MAR 2009
  5. Manuscript Received: 5 DEC 2008

Funded by

  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
  • AO Foundation

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Keywords:

  • biomaterials;
  • cell adhesion;
  • gene expression;
  • plasma polymerisation;
  • primary amines

Graphical Abstract

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U937 monocytes were cultured on N-rich organic coatings with well-characterised surface chemistries, deposited by plasmaand vacuum ultraviolet photo-polymerisation. By comparing those materials that trigger cell-adhesion, we demonstrated the dominant role of primary amines in the adhesion mechanism. RT-PCR analyses of adhering cells displayed a transient expression of cytokines, but a more sustained expression of genes implicated in the adhesion and retention of monocytes.

Abstract

We present a two-fold study designed to elucidate the adhesion mechanism of human U937 monocytes on novel N-rich thin films deposited by plasma- and VUV photo-polymerisation, so-called “PVP:N” materials. It is shown that there exist sharply-defined (“critical”) surface-chemical conditions that are necessary to induce cell adhesion. By comparing the film chemistries at the “critical” conditions, we demonstrate the dominant role of primary amines in the cell adhesion mechanism. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR experiments using U937 cells that had adhered to PVP:N materials for up to 24 h are presented. The adhesion induces a transient expression of cytokines, markers of macrophage activation, as well as a more sustained expression of PPARγ and ICAM-I.

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