Macrophage interactions with modified material surfaces

An understanding of the biological response at material surfaces is a key b iomaterials research area. Inflammation, tissue repair and regeneration are hallmarks of this response. Macrophages are long-lived and versatile cells and have a pivotal role at surfaces of implanted medical devices. The pres ent review provides an update on macrophage behaviour at material surfaces. The interactions between cells and material surfaces are dynamic processes which require additional experimental models with different degrees of env ironmental complexity. It is concluded that both modifications of material surface properties and cellular signalling pathways will provide strategies for optimising the performance of biomedical devices. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sc ience Ltd. All rights reserved.