Interactions between endothelial cells and a poly(carbonate-silsesquioxane-bridge-urea)urethane

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Cardiovascular Engineering

Background:

• A novel polymer, poly(carbonate-silsesquioxane-bridge-urea)urethane (PCBSU), has been developed for cardiovascular device applications.
• Previous characterization and in vivo tests confirmed the durability of PCBSU.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the cytocompatibility of PCBSU with human umbilical vein cells (HUVEC).
• To investigate potential cytotoxic effects of PCBSU through direct and indirect contact assays.
• To assess the long-term effect of PCBSU on endothelial cell proliferation and viability.

Main Methods:

• Direct contact assay: HUVEC seeded on PCBSU discs.
• Indirect contact assay: HUVEC exposed to cell culture medium pre-incubated with powdered PCBSU.
• Proliferation assay: HUVEC seeded on PCBSU films and monitored over 16 days.
• Assays used: Alamar blue, lactate dehydrogenase, Pico green, Toluidine blue staining, and scanning electron microscopy.

Main Results:

• HUVEC demonstrated viability and growth on PCBSU films for up to 16 days.
• Indirect contact with PCBSU-treated medium showed no significant cell damage at 1 and 10 mg/ml, with only a slight reduction at 100 mg/ml after 96 hours.
• Morphological analysis confirmed cell adherence and growth.

Conclusions:

• PCBSU supports endothelial cell growth over extended periods.
• The polymer exhibits no significant cytotoxic effects, making it suitable for biomedical applications.
• PCBSU shows potential for use in cardiovascular medical devices and tissue engineering scaffolds.