Biomedical subjects

Anne Simmons

Publications and source records attributed to Anne Simmons.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Monitoring cell adhesion on tantalum and oxidised polystyrene using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation.

The quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) (Q-Sense AB, Sweden) has been established as a useful tool for evaluating interactions between various biological and non-biological systems, and there has been increasing interest in using the QCM-D technique for cell monitoring applications. This study investigated the potential of the QCM-D to characterise the initial adhesion and spreading of cells in contact with protein precoated biocompatible surfaces. The QCM-D technique is attractive for monitoring cell adhesion and spreading as it allows in situ real-time measurements. The adhesion of NIH3T3 (EGFP) fibroblasts to tantalum (Ta) and oxidised polystyrene (PS(ox)) surfaces precoated with serum proteins was examined using the QCM-D for a period of either 2 or 4 h. Time-lapse photography was performed at 30 min intervals to visually examine cell adhesion and spreading in order to relate cell morphology to the QCM-D response. Following adsorption of albumin, fibronectin or newborn calf serum onto the surfaces, QCM-D measurements showed that cells adhered and spread on the fibronectin and serum coated surfaces, while few cells adhered to the albumin coated surfaces. Cells adhered to albumin coated surfaces had a rounded morphology. The responses to fibronectin and serum precoated surfaces were quite different for each of the underlying substrates indicating that the process of cell adhesion and spreading elicits different responses depending on both the protein coating composition and the influence of the underlying substrate. The different response may be due to extracellular matrix remodelling as well as cytoskeletal changes. Frequency (f) and dissipation (D) changes associated with cell adhesion were less than would be expected from the Sauerbrey relation due to the viscoelastic properties of the cells.

Absorption↗

PubMed2006

The effect of sterilisation on a poly(dimethylsiloxane)/poly(hexamethylene oxide) mixed macrodiol-based polyurethane elastomer.

The effect of various forms of sterilisation on a novel thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer synthesised using poly(hexamethylene oxide) (PHMO) and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) macrodiols has been studied. The five sterilisation methods investigated were ethylene oxide (EtO) (single and multiple cycles), gas plasma, steam, vapour phase liquid chemical and gamma-irradiation (single and multiple cycles). Following sterilisation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) were used to assess changes in the surface chemical structure and morphology, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and tensile testing were used to examine changes in bulk characteristics. Biostability was assessed using subcutaneous implantation of strained samples in sheep for 6 weeks. The results showed that the properties of the commercially available control material, Pellethane 2363-80A, were significantly affected by exposure to gamma-irradiation, steam and multiple cycles of EtO with aging and implantation compounding the effect. Exposure to a gas plasma sterilisation process resulted in significant degradation in both polyurethanes. A vapour phase liquid chemical sterilisation process caused minimal adverse effects. Sterilisation of the PDMS-based polyurethane using EtO, gamma-irradiation and autoclaving resulted in no significant changes in properties. The material's biostability was also unaffected by exposure to each of these sterilisation processes followed by short-term implantation suggesting that this material is a potential candidate for use in a wide range of implantable medical devices sterilised using commercially available processes. Further biostability studies should be performed to assess the longer-term in vivo biostability of the PDMS-based material sterilised using autoclaving and gamma-irradiation.

Chromatography, Gel↗

PubMed2005

Lysozyme interaction with poly(HEMA)-based hydrogel.

Lysozyme interaction with an acrylic-based hydrogel, poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) co-methacrylic acid (P(HEMA-MAA)), was investigated using a combination of quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D), surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and dual polarisation interferometry (DPI). This combination of techniques demonstrated that lysozyme initially absorbed into the hydrogel matrix and displaced water from the hydrogel while subsequent lysozyme additions were adsorbed onto the surface of the hydrogel material. QCM-D, being sensitive to bound water, showed an overall decrease in mass and stiffening of the layer after lysozyme addition. SPR, a water insensitive technique, showed a net mass increase after addition of lysozyme and buffer rinses. DPI showed that the first exposure of lysozyme to P(HEMA-MAA) was consistent with lysozyme absorption while subsequent lysozyme exposures were consistent with lysozyme adsorption.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗

PubMed2005

The effect of charged groups on protein interactions with poly(HEMA) hydrogels.

Proteins, lipids and other biomolecules interact strongly with the acrylic-based biomaterials used for contact lenses. Although hydrogels are nominally resistant to protein fouling, many studies have reported considerable amounts of protein bound to poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (PHEMA) lenses. This study examined the binding of a series of biomolecules (tear protein analogues, mucin and cholesterol) to poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) and three HEMA-based hydrogels (PHEMA, HEMA plus methacrylic acid (P(HEMA-MAA)), HEMA plus methacrylic acid plus N-vinylpyrrolidone (P(HEMA-MAA-NVP))) by use of a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) monitoring. The QCM-D estimates changes in the mass and viscous constant for the adsorbed layer through measurements of frequency and dissipation. Protein interaction with each of the test materials caused a net increase in mass of the material indicating protein binding except for lysozyme interacting with P(HEMA-MAA). A net decrease in mass was observed for lysozyme interacting with P(HEMA-MAA) which may be ascribed to lysozyme collapsing the hydrogel by expelling water. A net mass decrease was observed for cholesterol interacting with each of the hydrogel materials, while a mass increase was observed on PMMA.

Adsorption↗

PubMed2004

Long-term in vivo biostability of poly(dimethylsiloxane)/poly(hexamethylene oxide) mixed macrodiol-based polyurethane elastomers.

The long-term biostability of a novel thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (Elast-Eon 2 80A) synthesized using poly(hexamethylene oxide) (PHMO) and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) macrodiols has been studied using an in vivo ovine model. The material's biostability was compared with that of three commercially available control materials, Pellethane 2363-80A, Pellethane 2363-55D and Bionate 55D, after subcutaneous implantation of strained compression moulded flat sheet dumbbells in sheep for periods ranging from 3 to 24 months. Scanning electron microscopy, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to assess changes in the surface chemical structure and morphology of the materials. Gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry and tensile testing were used to examine changes in bulk characteristics of the materials. The results showed that the biostability of the soft flexible PDMS-based test polyurethane was significantly better than the control material of similar softness, Pellethane 80A, and as good as or better than both of the harder commercially available negative control polyurethanes, Pellethane 55D and Bionate 55D. Changes observed in the surface of the Pellethane materials were consistent with oxidation of the aliphatic polyether soft segment and hydrolysis of the urethane bonds joining hard to soft segment with degradation in Pellethane 80A significantly more severe than that observed in Pellethane 55D. Very minor changes were seen on the surfaces of the Elast-Eon 2 80A and Bionate 55D materials. There was a general trend of molecular weight decreasing with time across all polymers and the molecular weights of all materials decreased at a similar relative rate. The polydispersity ratio, Mw/Mn, increased with time for all materials. Tensile tests indicated that UTS increased in Elast-Eon 2 80A and Bionate 55D following implantation under strained conditions. However, ultimate strain decreased and elastic modulus increased in the explanted specimens of all three materials when compared with their unimplanted unstrained counterparts. The results indicate that a soft, flexible PDMS-based polyurethane synthesized using 20% PHMO and 80% PDMS macrodiols has excellent long-term biostability compared with commercially available polyurethanes.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Hematologic and biochemical effects of the Gradiflow in an ex vivo ovine model.

The Gradiflow (Life Therapeutics, Frenchs Forest, Australia) system is a novel electrophoretic technique that uses the dual characteristics of size and charge to separate target macromolecules from complex biological solutions. The system has the potential to selectively remove a range of moieties from blood and plasma in an in vivo system such as hemodialysis or, alternatively, in an in vitro setting such as a blood bank. In this study, the safety of a scaled down Gradiflow prototype device with a membrane surface area of 16 cm2 was investigated using an ex vivo ovine model. Physiologic, hematologic, and biochemical parameters were assessed in 12 sheep: 6 animals treated using the Gradiflow and 6 controls. The effects of the Gradiflow procedure on both whole blood and plasma were analyzed. The Gradiflow procedure was well tolerated, and the application of an electrical potential or exposure to the Gradiflow membrane did not cause any significant changes in the parameters measured. Hemoglobin levels remained stable in all groups during the 4-hour experiment. An early neutropenia was observed in all groups, although this appeared to be more pronounced with exposure to a plasma filter; the presence of the Gradiflow component had no separate influence. One sheep in the plasma group experienced septic shock, caused by Staphylococcus contamination of the separation membrane. Overall, the results indicate that there were no gross physiologic, hematologic, or biochemical adverse reactions to the ex vivo Gradiflow procedure.

Animals↗