Related Experiment Videos
Surface charge in foreign body carcinogenesis
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research
|March 1, 1979
Summary
Surface charge on implanted materials may influence cancer development. Charged polystyrene electrets showed a higher cumulative tumor probability in mice, suggesting a potential role in foreign body carcinogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Oncology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Foreign body carcinogenesis is a known phenomenon.
- The role of surface charge in this process remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of surface charge on foreign body carcinogenesis.
- To evaluate the tumorigenic potential of bipolar polystyrene thermoelectrets in mice.
Main Methods:
- Bipolar polystyrene thermoelectrets were implanted in C3H/HeJ male mice.
- Thermoelectrets were formed in variously charged electrical fields.
- Tumor development and latency periods were monitored over 133 weeks.
Main Results:
- Charged electrets exhibited a higher cumulative tumor probability (0.58) compared to controls.
- The overall tumor rate for charged electrets was 27%, versus 17% and 6% for controls.
- Most tumors developed on the electronegative side of the electrets; antigenicity was weak.
Conclusions:
- Surface charge may play a role in foreign body carcinogenesis.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms, especially regarding charge polarity.
- Weak tumor antigenicity limited immunologic investigations.