ADHESION AND CYTOKINE PRODUCTION BY MONOCYTES ON POLY(2-METHACRYLOYLOXYETHYL PHOSPHORYLCHOLINE-CO-ALKYL METHACRYLATE)-COATED POLYMERS

Human monocytes isolated from peripheral venous blood were assayed for their ability to adhere to various polymers. The culture supernatants were also assayed for the cytokines, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). The polymers evaluated for adherence and cytokine production included Pel lethane(R), polyethylene and poly[n-butyl methacrylate (BMA)] coated w ith poly[2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC)-co-alkyl metha crylate] copolymers. In some experiments the test polymers were adsorb ed with fibrinogen or IgG prior to the addition of monocytes. MPC copo lymer-coated materials inhibited monocyte and macrophage adhesion afte r 1 and 8 days of culture relative to corresponding uncoated polymers and tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS). The degree of inhibition by coa ted Pellethane compared to uncoated Pellethane was the greatest, while inhibition of adhesion by coated poly(BMA) was the least compared to uncoated poly(BMA). However, adhesion was significantly decreased on b oth coated and uncoated poly(BMA) by day 8. While n-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha release was variably influenced by polymer coating, release was consistently inhibited relative to TCPS on day 1. However, cytokin e production was not inhibited compared to corresponding uncoated poly mers on day 1. With or without protein preadsorption, IL-1 beta releas e was not detectable in the supernatants of any polymer on day 8, IL-6 production was diminished on day 8, and TNF-alpha production was sust ained on day 8. Overall, MPC copolymer-coated and uncoated poly(BMA) w ere the least stimulating, while TCPS was the most stimulating. These studies suggest that MPC copolymers may improve the cell adhesion-resi stant properties of a biomaterial while variably influencing the activ ation of cells which may contact the coated surface. (C) 1995 John Wil ey & Sons, Inc.