Surface coatings of materials by polysaccharide polymers are an acknowledged strategy to modulate interfacial biocompatibility. Polysaccharides from various algal species represent an attractive source of structurally diverse compounds that have found application in the biomedical field. Furcellaran obtained from the red algae Furcellaria lumbricalis is a potential candidate for biomedical applications due to its gelation properties and mechanical strength. In the present study, immobilization of furcellaran onto polyethylene terephthalate surfaces by a multistep approach was studied. In this approach, N-allylmethylamine was grafted onto a functionalized polyethylene terephthalate (PET) surface via air plasma treatment. Furcellaran, as a bioactive agent, was anchored on such substrates. Surface characteristics were measured by means of contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Subsequently, samples were subjected to selected cell interaction assays, such as antibacterial activity, anticoagulant activity, fibroblasts and stem cell cytocompatibility, to investigate the Furcellaran potential in biomedical applications. Based on these results, furcellaran-coated PET films showed significantly improved embryonic stem cell (ESC) proliferation compared to the initial untreated material.

• Keywords
• biopolymer, cell-surface interaction, deposition, furcellaran, polysaccharide,
• MeSH
• Alginates * MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Polyethylene Terephthalates * chemistry   MeSH
• Polymers chemistry   MeSH
• Surface Properties MeSH
• Plant Gums MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Alginates * MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents MeSH
• furcellaran MeSH Browser
• Polyethylene Terephthalates * MeSH
• Polymers MeSH
• Plant Gums MeSH

The development of antibacterial materials has great importance in avoiding bacterial contamination and the risk of infection for implantable biomaterials. An antibacterial thin film coating on the surface via chemical bonding is a promising technique to keep native bulk material properties unchanged. However, most of the polymeric materials are chemically inert and highly hydrophobic, which makes chemical agent coating challenging Herein, immobilization of chlorhexidine, a broad-spectrum bactericidal cationic compound, onto the polylactic acid surface was performed in a multistep physicochemical method. Direct current plasma was used for surface functionalization, followed by carbodiimide chemistry to link the coupling reagents of N-(3-Dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDAC) and N-Hydroxysuccinimide (NHs) to create a free bonding site to anchor the chlorhexidine. Surface characterizations were performed by water contact angle test, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The antibacterial activity was tested using Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Finally, in vitro cytocompatibility of the samples was studied using primary mouse embryonic fibroblast cells. It was found that all samples were cytocompatible and the best antibacterial performance observed was the Chlorhexidine immobilized sample after NHs activation.

• Keywords
• biomaterial associated infection, chlorhexidine, cytocompatibility, plasma treatment, polylactic acid,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Polymer biointerfaces are considered suitable materials for the improvement and development of numerous applications [...].

• Publication type
• Editorial MeSH

Beside biomaterials' bulk properties, their surface properties are equally important to control interfacial biocompatibility. However, due to the inadequate interaction with tissue, they may cause foreign body reaction. Moreover, surface induced thrombosis can occur when biomaterials are used for blood containing applications. Surface modification of the biomaterials can bring enhanced surface properties in biomedical applications. Sulfated polysaccharide coatings can be used to avoid surface induced thrombosis which may cause vascular occlusion (blocking the blood flow by blood clot), which results in serious health problems. Naturally occurring heparin is one of the sulfated polysaccharides most commonly used as an anticoagulant, but its long term usage causes hemorrhage. Marine sourced sulfated polysaccharide fucoidan is an alternative anticoagulant without the hemorrhage drawback. Heparin and fucoidan immobilization onto a low density polyethylene surface after functionalization by plasma has been studied. Surface energy was demonstrated by water contact angle test and chemical characterizations were carried out by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Surface morphology was monitored by scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope. Finally, their anticoagulation activity was examined for prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and thrombin time (TT).

• Keywords
• anticoagulant, biomaterials, fucoidan, heparin, plasma treatment, thrombosis,
• MeSH
• Anticoagulants adverse effects   chemistry   pharmacology   MeSH
• Heparin adverse effects   chemistry   pharmacology   MeSH
• Blood drug effects   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Polyethylene chemistry   MeSH
• Polysaccharides adverse effects   chemistry   pharmacology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Anticoagulants MeSH
• fucoidan MeSH Browser
• Heparin MeSH
• Polyethylene MeSH
• Polysaccharides MeSH

Alginic acid coated polyethylene films were examined in terms of surface properties and bacteriostatic performance against two most representative bacterial strains, that is, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Microwave plasma treatment followed by brush formation in vapor state from three distinguished precursors (allylalcohol, allylamine, hydroxyethyl methacrylate) was carried out to deposit alginic acid on the substrate. Surface analyses via various techniques established that alginic acid was immobilized onto the surface where grafting (brush) chemistry influenced the amount of alginic acid coated. Moreover, alginic acid was found to be capable of bacterial growth inhibition which itself was significantly affected by the brush type. The polyanionic character of alginic acid as a carbohydrate polymer was assumed to play the pivotal role in antibacterial activity. The cell wall composition of two bacterial strains along with the substrates physicochemical properties accounted for different levels of bacteriostatic performance.

• MeSH
• Alginates chemistry   MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents chemistry   pharmacology   MeSH
• Escherichia coli drug effects   MeSH
• Glucuronic Acid chemistry   MeSH
• Hexuronic Acids chemistry   MeSH
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
• Polyethylene chemistry   MeSH
• Staphylococcus aureus drug effects   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Alginates MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents MeSH
• Glucuronic Acid MeSH
• Hexuronic Acids MeSH
• Polyethylene MeSH

The effective and widely tested biocides: Benzalkonium chloride, bronopol, chitosan, chlorhexidine and irgasan were added in different concentrations to atelocollagen matrices. In order to assess how these antibacterial agents influence keratinocytes cell growth, cell viability and proliferation were determined by using MTT assay. Acquired data indicated a low toxicity by employing any of these chemical substances. Furthermore, cell viability and proliferation were comparatively similar to the samples where there were no biocides. It means that regardless of the agent, collagen-cell-attachment properties are not drastically affected by the incorporation of those biocides into the substrate. Therefore, these findings suggest that these atelocollagen substrates enhanced by the addition of one or more of these agents may render effectiveness against bacterial stains and biofilm formation, being the samples referred to herein as "antimicrobial substrates" a promising view in the design of novel antimicrobial biomaterials potentially suitable for tissue engineering applications.

• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH