Bioanalysis of surface layers by means of surface activation of the complement system in vitro

摘要

A general problem in the use and the introduction of new material in medical activity is the inflammatory reactions which occur, activation of complement factors in plasma being an important mediator system. Analysis of the effects of different materials on the complement system has previously been based on analysis of developments in the liquid phase. The method described here is based on the discovery that solid complement deposits can take place on the surface of the material without it being possible to indicate activation in the liquid phase. Deposition begins as activity cores which then grow peripherally and flow together until the entire surface is covered. The density and distribution of the activity cores varies depending on the heterogeneity and defects in the surface. The deposits bring about adhesion of white blood corpuscles which free tissue-degrading products. By using specific markers for the deposits growing on the surface, on the one hand the location and on the other hand the microscopic distribution can be analysed. This makes possible analysis of the inflammation-mediating properties of the material (biocompatibility) and also a sensitive method of indicating defects and contamination on surfaces in other non-biotechnological contexts.