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Fabricating and Labeling Microbubbles with Fluorescent and Radioactive Tracers
Published on: January 24, 2025
Versatile polymer microspheres for injection therapy: aspects of fluoroscopic traceability and biofunctionalization
Ketie Saralidze1, Menno L W Knetsch, Cees van der Marel
1Department of Biomedical Engineering/Biomaterials Sciences, Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. k.saralidze@bioch.unimaas.nl
Biomacromolecules
|October 22, 2010
Summary
Novel radiopaque microspheres with aldehyde groups enable protein immobilization for enhanced biocompatibility. These particles improve cell adhesion, suggesting potential for tissue interaction beyond passive filler applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Surface Chemistry
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Developing functionalized biomaterials is crucial for advanced medical applications.
- Radiopacity and controlled surface chemistry are key features for implantable materials.
- Preserving protein structure during immobilization is essential for biological activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel radiopaque microspheres with surface aldehyde groups.
- To enable mild and effective protein tethering while preserving protein conformation.
- To evaluate the cytocompatibility and biological response to immobilized proteins.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of microspheres using 4-iodobenzoyl-2-oxo-ethylmethacrylate (4-IEMA) and propenal.
- Surface functionalization with aldehyde groups for protein coupling.
- Optimization of protein immobilization using fluorescently labeled bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA) and collagen (FITC-collagen).
- Characterization using X-ray visibility, cytocompatibility assays, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized radiopaque microspheres with accessible aldehyde groups.
- Demonstrated good X-ray visibility and cytocompatibility of the microspheres.
- Optimized protein immobilization procedures, preserving protein structure.
- Verified successful immobilization of bovine collagen type I.
- Observed enhanced fibroblast adhesion and growth on collagen-modified surfaces compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Immobilized, nondenatured collagen on radiopaque microspheres promotes significant cell interaction.
- These functionalized microspheres can transition from passive fillers to active participants in tissue cross-talk.
- The developed microspheres hold promise for applications requiring both imaging traceability and biological signaling.
