Analysis of immobilizedL-cysteine on polymers

Recent Developments in Multifunctional Antimicrobial Surfaces and Applications toward Advanced Nitric Oxide-Based Biomaterials

Implant-associated infections arising from biofilm development are known to have detrimental effects with compromised quality of life for the patients, implying a progressing issue in healthcare. It has been a struggle for more than 50 years for the biomaterials field to achieve long-term success of medical implants by discouraging bacterial and protein adhesion without adversely affecting the surrounding tissue and cell functions. However, the rate of infections associated with medical devices is continuously escalating because of the intricate nature of bacterial biofilms, antibiotic resistance, and the lack of ability of monofunctional antibacterial materials to prevent the colonization of bacteria on the device surface. For this reason, many current strategies are focused on the development of novel antibacterial surfaces with dual antimicrobial functionality. These surfaces are based on the combination of two components into one system that can eradicate attached bacteria (antibiotics, peptides, nitric oxide, ammonium salts, light, etc.) and also resist or release adhesion of bacteria (hydrophilic polymers, zwitterionic, antiadhesive, topography, bioinspired surfaces, etc.). This review aims to outline the progress made in the field of biomedical engineering and biomaterials for the development of multifunctional antibacterial biomedical devices. Additionally, principles for material design and fabrication are highlighted using characteristic examples, with a special focus on combinational nitric oxide-releasing biomedical interfaces. A brief perspective on future research directions for engineering of dual-function antibacterial surfaces is also presented.

Cysteine immobilisation on the polyethylene terephthalate surfaces and its effect on the haemocompatibility

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important signalling molecule involved in haemostasis. NO, present as endogenous S-nitrosothiols, is released by cysteine through a transnitrosation reaction. To exploit this mechanism, cysteine was immobilised onto the different carboxylated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) surfaces using 1-step EDC (1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide) crosslinking mechanism. Immobilised cysteine concentration and NO release were dependent on the surface carboxyl density. Stability studies showed that the immobilised cysteine concentration and NO release reduced within 6 h. Immobilisation of cysteine derivatives eliminated the possibility of formation of polycysteine and its electrostatic interaction with the carboxylated PET. The immobilised cysteine concentration did not recover after DTT treatment, eliminating the possibility of disulphide bond formation. Further, cysteine was immobilised using a 2-step EDC crosslinking mechanism. Although the cysteine concentration reduced during stability studies, it recovered upon DTT treatment, indicating that cysteine forms amide bonds with the carboxylated PET and the observed decrease in cysteine concentration is probably due to the formation of disulphide bonds. The haemocompatibility of the cysteine immobilised PET surfaces showed similar results compared to the carboxylated PET. The loss of thiol groups due to the disulphide bond restricts the transnitrosation reaction. Hence, these materials can be used primarily in short-term applications.

Modified prosthetic vascular conduits

Atherosclerosis in the form of peripheral arterial disease results in significant morbidity. Surgical treatment options for peripheral arterial disease include angioplasty, endarterectomy, and bypass grafting. For bypass grafting, vein remains the conduit of choice; however, poor quality and limited availability have led to the use of prosthetic materials. Unfortunately, because of a lack of endothelium and compliance mismatch, neointimal hyperplasia develops aggressively, resulting in high failure rates. To improve graft patency, investigators have developed surgical, chemical, and biological graft modifications. This review describes common prosthetic materials, as well as approaches currently in use and under investigation to modify and improve prosthetic conduits for bypass grafting in an effort to improve graft patency rates.

The role of nitric oxide in the pathophysiology of intimal hyperplasia

Since its discovery, nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as a biologically important molecule and was even named Molecule of the Year by Science magazine in 1992. Specific to our interests, NO has been implicated in the regulation of vascular pathology. This review begins with a summary of the molecular biology of NO, from its discovery to the mechanisms of endogenous production. Next, we turn our attention to describing the arterial injury response of neointimal hyperplasia, and we review the role of NO in the pathophysiology of neointimal hyperplasia. Finally, we review the literature regarding NO-based therapies. This includes the development of inhalational-based NO therapies, systemically administered L-arginine and NO donors, NO synthase gene therapy, locally applied NO donors, and NO-releasing prosthetic materials. By reviewing the current literature, we emphasize the tremendous clinical potential that NO-based therapies can have on the development of neointimal hyperplasia.

Improved hemocompatibility of poly(ethylene terephthalate) modified with various thiol-containing groups

Thiol groups were attached to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to promote the transfer of a known platelet inhibitor, nitric oxide (NO), from nitrosated thiols naturally found in the body to PET, followed by the release of NO from PET to prevent platelet adhesion. In order to immobilize the most thiols on the modified polymer, the processing parameters used to attach the following three thiol containing groups were assessed: L-cysteine, 2-iminothiolane, and a cysteine polypeptide. When comparing the immobilized concentrations of thiol groups from each of the optimized processes the amount of immobilized thiol groups increased in order with the following groups: cysteine polypeptide <2-iminothiolane <L-cysteine. The effect of each optimized polymer on platelet adhesion was studied by in vitro experiments utilizing a parallel plate perfusion chamber. Platelets in the following solutions were tested: Tyrode's buffer, 7 microm nitrosated bovine serum albumin in Tyrode's buffer, 50% plasma in Tyrode's buffer, and 50% whole blood in Tyrode's buffer. All of the polymers demonstrated a significant decrease in platelet adhesion compared to controls when exposed to the BSANO, plasma and whole blood solutions. The most significant decrease was for the L-cysteine modified polymer in the plasma solution with a 65% decrease.