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Complement System

Complement System

The complement system is a group of approximately 20 plasma proteins that strengthen the body's defenses against infections through opsonization, inflammation, and cell lysis. Opsonization involves coating pathogens with complement proteins, making them more recognizable and facilitating phagocyte engulfment. Certain complement proteins induce inflammation that attracts immune cells to the site of infection. Cell lysis involves the destruction of pathogens through the formation of a membrane...

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Complement activation on degraded polyethylene glycol-covered surface.

Mitsuaki Toda¹, Yusuke Arima, Hiroo Iwata

¹Advanced Software Technology & Mechatronics Research Institute of Kyoto, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.

Acta Biomaterialia

|February 4, 2010

Summary

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) surfaces, initially inert, can degrade over time or with UV exposure. This deterioration triggers complement system activation, potentially causing adverse immune responses in biomaterials.

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Surface Passivation for Single-molecule Protein Studies

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Published on: April 24, 2014

Area of Science:

Biomaterials Science
Surface Chemistry
Immunology

Background:

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is widely used for surface modification of biomaterials to minimize adverse biological reactions.
However, unexpected immune responses have been observed, with complement system activation implicated.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the stability of PEG-modified surfaces and their potential to activate the complement system.
To understand the mechanisms behind unexpected immune reactions to PEGylated biomaterials.

Main Methods:

Preparation of a PEG-modified gold surface using a specific PEG derivative.
Assessment of protein adsorption and complement activation immediately after preparation.
Evaluation of surface changes and complement activation after storage or UV irradiation using FTIR-RAS and X-ray photo spectrometry.

Main Results:

Newly prepared PEG surfaces showed no protein adsorption or complement activation.
Deterioration of the PEG layer was observed after storage or UV treatment.
The degraded PEG surface strongly activated the complement system via the alternative pathway.

Conclusions:

PEG surface modification can lose its inertness upon degradation.
Environmental factors like light and storage conditions can compromise PEG layer integrity.
Degraded PEG surfaces pose a risk for complement-mediated immune reactions, impacting biomaterial safety.