Peritoneal macrophage response: an in vivo model for the study of synthetic materials

This study was designed to validate an in vivo model in rat to study cell-implant interactions. Pieces of Dacron and Goretex and polydimethylsiloxane (reference material) precoated or not were implanted in the peritoneal cavity. In some cases the peritoneal cells were stimulated before the implantation. Macrophage phagocytosis and fibrinocoagulolytic activities were investigated in parallel with morphological studies 6 h after implantation. A graded cell response related to the different situations was observed, providing a measure of the material's behaviour. Using this model, other investigations of macrophage/polymer can be conducted, especially to explain implant encapsulation.