On the tissue compatibility of poly(ether imide) membranes: an in vitro study on their interaction with human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes

Recently we have developed a novel type of membrane based on poly(ether imide) (PEI) which is considered for biomedical application. To improve its physical and biological performance it was modified by blending with poly(benzimidazole) (PBI). In the present study both membranes were characterized in terms of their physicochemical properties and in vitro tissue compatibility using human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes. The modified membrane (PEI*) was more hydrophilic, less porous and had an increased surface (zeta) potential. We further found that blending with PBI tends to promote cell contact, at least initially, as indicated by the improved overall cell morphology, adhesion and spreading of fibroblasts, and the development of focal adhesion complexes. The effects of fibronectin (FN) and serum coating were also beneficial when compared to pure PEI and tissue culture polystyrene (TCP), which correlates to a higher adsorption of both FN and vitronectin detected by ELISA. However, a clear tendency for homotypic cellular interaction particularly of keratinocytes was obtained in contact with membranes, which was much stronger pronounced on PEI*. Although the initial adhesion was greater on PEI*, a surprising decrease in cell growth was observed at later stages of incubation, which may be explained with the membrane-promoted cellular aggregation leading to an easier detachment from the substratum. Thus, membranes based on blends of PEI with PBI could provide a tissue compatible scaffold with lowered adhesive properties, which might be a useful tool for the transfer of cells, for example, to in vitro engineered tissue constructs.     

pH-dependent modulation of fibroblast adhesion on multilayers composed of poly(ethylene imine) and heparin

Adhesion of tissue cells is a prerequisite for their growth and differentiation but prevents also apoptosis. Here the layer-by-layer technique (LbL) was used to design multilayer structures of poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) and heparin (HEP) on glass as model biomaterial to control the adhesion of primary human dermal fibroblasts. Distinct surface features like wettability, charge and lateral structures were controlled by changing the pH value of the HEP solution during multilayer assembly to acidic, neutral or alkaline values. While plain terminal layers were rather cytophobic, the pre-adsorption of serum or fibronectin (FN) caused a distinct change in cell morphology in dependence on the pH setup. The effect of serum was more prominent on PEI layers probably due to their positive surface charge, whereas the effect of FN was more pronounced on HEP terminated multilayers possibly due to its ability to bind FN specifically. Those layers which hampered cell adhesion also inhibited growth of human fibroblasts under serum conditions. Conversely, on layers where cell adhesion was increased also an elevated growth and, thus, metabolic activity was observed.     

Poly(ether imide) membranes: studies on the effect of surface modification and protein pre-adsorption on endothelial cell adhesion,growth and function

Poly(ether imide) (PEI) membranes of which the surface was modified with carboxylic groups were tested in comparison to pure PEI and poly(ethylene terephtalate) (PET) for their ability to support attachment, growth and function of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with respect to endothelization of the above materials. Flat sheet PEI membranes were modified by covalent binding of iminodiacetic acid (IDA) for different periods of time (1 to 30 min) to obtain surfaces with various content of carboxylic groups. In addition, fibronectin (FN) and fibrinogen (FNG) pre-adsorption on the various membranes were studied for their effect on HUVEC behaviour. The results show a decreased protein adsorption and HUVEC adhesion, growth and function in terms of prostacyclin production with an increase in carboxylic groups. Pre-adsorption of the membranes with FN or FNG promoted activity of HUVEC, which became superior to cells on PET. FN-coated membranes were found to be a better substrate for HUVEC adhesion and prostacyclin production, while on FNG-coated membranes cells grew better. Overall it can be concluded that PEI is a promising materials for endothelial cells immobilization as it is needed for improving the haemocompatibility of cardiovascular devices.     

Poly(ether imide) membranes: studies on the effect of surface modification and protein pre-adsorption on endothelial cell adhesion, growth and function

Poly(ether imide) (PEI) membranes of which the surface was modified with carboxylic groups were tested in comparison to pure PEI and poly(ethylene terephtalate) (PET) for their ability to support attachment, growth and function of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with respect to endothelization of the above materials. Flat sheet PEI membranes were modified by covalent binding of iminodiacetic acid (IDA) for different periods of time (1 to 30 min) to obtain surfaces with various content of carboxylic groups. In addition, fibronectin (FN) and fibrinogen (FNG) pre-adsorption on the various membranes were studied for their effect on HUVEC behaviour. The results show a decreased protein adsorption and HUVEC adhesion, growth and function in terms of prostacyclin production with an increase in carboxylic groups. Pre-adsorption of the membranes with FN or FNG promoted activity of HUVEC, which became superior to cells on PET. FN-coated membranes were found to be a better substrate for HUVEC adhesion and prostacyclin production, while on FNG-coated membranes cells grew better. Overall it can be concluded that PEI is a promising materials for endothelial cells immobilization as it is needed for improving the haemocompatibility of cardiovascular devices.     

Cellular responses to electrospun membranes made from blends of PLLGA with PEG and PLLGA-b-PEG

Control of cellular responses is crucial for the use of electrospun membranes in biomedical applications, including tissue engineering or biomedical devices. However, it is still unclear whether adhesion and proliferation of fibroblasts is stimulated or inhibited on polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified electrospun membranes. In this study, poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLLGA)-PEG copolymer and pure PEG were blended with PLLGA, and then electrospun onto nonwoven membranes. The effects of blending of PLLGA-PEG or pure PEG on the adsorption of proteins, and further on the adhesion and proliferation of L929 fibroblasts on the electrospun membranes were investigated. Addition of PLLGA-PEG or PEG significantly improved the hydrophilicity of the electrospun membranes. Pure PEG had no obvious effects on the growth of L929 fibroblasts; in contrast, PLLGA-PEG significantly inhibited the adsorption of proteins and the proliferations of the cells on the electrospun membranes. In response to diminished protein adsorption, mRNA expression of genes related to cell adhesion and migration was up-regulated. The limited effects of pure PEG were probably caused by its preferential dissolution, whereas membrane-confined PLLGA-PEG displayed excellent performance on the inhibition of protein adsorption and cell proliferation. ? 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 100A:2897-2904, 2012.     

Human skin cell cultures onto PLA50 (PDLLA) bioresorbable polymers: influence of chemical and morphological surface modifications

Poly(alpha-hydroxy acid)s derived from lactic and glycolic acid are bioresorbable polymers which can cover a large range of thermal, physical, mechanical, and biological properties. Human keratinocytes have been shown as able to grow on a poly(DL-lactic acid) film. However the keratinocyte growth was delayed with respect to culture on standard tissue culture polystyrene, even though the same plateau level was observed after 2 weeks. In order to improve the performance of poly(DL-lactic acid) films as skin culture support, their surface was modified by creating tiny cavities using a method based on the leaching out of poly(ethylene oxide) from poly(lactic acid)-poly(ethylene oxide) heterogeneous blends. The surface of the films was also chemically modified by alkaline attack with sodium hydroxide and by type-I collagen coating. Murine fibroblast cell line and primary cultures of human fibroblasts and of two types of keratinocytes were allowed to adhere and to grow comparatively on the different films. The presence of cavities affected neither the adhesion of dermal fibroblasts nor that of keratinocytes. Only keratinocyte proliferation was significantly reduced by the presence of cavities. Collagen coating improved skin cell adhesion and proliferation as well, except in the case of murine fibroblasts. In the case of the NaOH treatments, similar trends were observed but their extent depended on the treatment time. In the case of chemical modifications, fluorescence microscopy bore out adhesion and proliferation tendencies deduced from MTT tests.     

New Cationic Biodegradable Poly(Urethane-co-Ester): Synthesis,Structural Characterization,Modification and Gene Delivery

To improve the transfection efficiency of poly(urethane-co-ester) and the cytotoxicity of PEI25k with DNA, we synthesized a new poly(urethane-co-ester), PUE, bearing ester linkages and amino groups in the backbone and urethane linkages in the side-chain, and then prepared a binary mixture, PUE-PEI25k, using a physical blending method. The structure of PUE was confirmed by FT-IR and NMR spectra. Both poly(urethane-co-ester), PUE, and binary mixture PUE-PEI25k, readily self-assembled with plasmid DNA (pCMV-βgal) in a HEPES buffer, were characterized by dynamic light scattering. The results revealed that PUE and PUE-PEI25k were able to self-assemble plasmid DNA into PUE/DNA and PUE-PEI25k/DNA nano-complexes small enough to enter a cell through endocytosis. Titration studies were performed to determine the buffering capacities of PUE and PUE-PEI25k. The COS-7 cell viability in the presence of PEI25k, PUE and PUE-PEI25k was studied. At low mass ratio of PUE/PEI25k (150:1), it was found that the PUE-PEI25k/DNA complexes were able to transfect COS-7 cells in vitro with a high efficiency comparable to a well-known gene carrier, PEI25k/DNA. The results indicate that the binary mixture PUE-PEI25k is an attractive cationic carrier for gene delivery and an interesting candidate for further study.     

Down-regulating ERK1/2 and SMAD2/3 phosphorylation by physical barrier of celecoxib-loaded electrospun fibrous membranes prevents tendon adhesions

Peritendinous adhesions, as a major problem in hand surgery, may be due to the proliferation of fibroblasts and excessive collagen synthesis, in which ERK1/2 and SMAD2/3 plays crucial roles. In this study, we hypothesized that the complication progression could be inhibited by down-regulating ERK1/2 and SMAD2/3 phosphorylation of exogenous fibroblasts with celecoxib. Celecoxib was incorporated in poly(l-lactic acid)-polyethylene glycol (PELA) diblock copolymer fibrous membranes via electrospinning. Results of an in vitro drug release study showed celecoxib-loaded membrane had excellent continuous drug release capability. It was found that celecoxib-loaded PELA membranes were not favorable for the rabbit fibroblast and tenocyte adhesion and proliferation. In a rabbit tendon repair model, we first identified ERK1/2 and SMAD2/3 phosphorylation as a critical driver of early adhesion formation progression. Celecoxib released from PELA membrane was found to down-regulate ERK1/2 and SMAD2/3 phosphorylation, leading to reduced collagen I and collagen Ⅲ expression, inflammation reaction, and fibroblast proliferation. Importantly, the celecoxib-loaded PELA membranes successfully prevented tissue adhesion compared with control treatment and unloaded membranes treatment. This approach offers a novel barrier strategy to block tendon adhesion through targeted down-regulating of ERK1/2 and SMAD2/3 phosphorylation directly within peritendinous adhesion tissue.     

Controlling fibroblast adhesion with pH modified polyelectrolyte multilayers

Tissue cells need to adhere to a biomaterial surface to promote their growth and differentiation and, thus, foster the integration of implants. As a result, surface features and their modification play an important role in biomedical applications. In this study, the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique was used to design self-assembled polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) coatings of polyethyleneimine (PEI) and heparin (HEP) on glass, which will control the adhesion of primary human dermal fibroblasts in a model system. The study showed that, among other surface features, the wettability of surfaces can be controlled by changing the conditions during multilayer self-assembly. Here, the pH value of the HEP solution was adjusted to acidic or alkaline values for terminal layers, which also led to a change in multilayer growth. Further, the study revealed that plain terminal layers were rather cytophobic. Upon pre-adsorption of fibronectin (FN), a clear effect on cell adhesion and morphology in dependence on the pH setup was evident. Proliferation studies clearly showed that terminal layers, which impaired cell adhesion, also inhibited growth of human fibroblasts under serum-conditions. On the other hand, on layers with pronounced cell adhesion an elevated cell growth was also observed. As a result, HEP terminated multilayers are interesting for applications requiring cell repellent properties, whereas PEI terminated multilayers could be used to promote cell adhesion and growth on implant surfaces.     

Electrospun gelatin/poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) nanofibers for mechanically functional tissue-engineering scaffolds

Recently, much attention has been given to the fabrication of tissue-engineering scaffolds with nano-scaled structure to stimulate cell adhesion and proliferation in a microenvironment similar to the natural extracellular matrix milieu. In the present study, blends of gelatin and poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) (blending ratio: 0, 30, 70 and 100 wt% gelatin to PLCL) were electrospun to prepare nano-structured non-woven fibers for the development of mechanically functional engineered skin grafts. The resulting nanofibers demonstrated the uniform and smooth fibers with mean diameters ranging from approx. 50 to 500 nm with interconnected pores, regardless of the composition. The contact angle decreased with increasing amount of gelatin in the blend and the water content of the nanofibers increased concurrently. PLCL nanofibers retained significant levels of recovery following application of uniaxial stress; GP-3 with 70% PLCL blend returned to the original length within less than 10% of deformation following 200% of uniaxial elongation. The overall tensile strength was inversely affected by increase in the gelatin content and degradation rates of the nanofibers were accelerated as the gelatin concentration increased. When seeded with human primary dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes on the nanofibers, both initial cell adhesion and proliferation rate increased as a function of the gelatin content in the blend. Additionally, the total cell number was significantly greater on the nanofiber scaffolds than on polymer-coated glasses, indicating that nanofibrous structure facilitates cell proliferation. Taken together, gelatin/PLCL blend nanofiber scaffolds may serve as a promising artificial extracellular matrix for regeneration of mechanically functional skin tissue.     

Effect of a Gelatin Hydrogel Incorporating Epiregulin on Human Keratinocyte Growth

Abstract

Ionic hydrogels are biocompatible interesting candidates for tissue-engineering applications, such as the creation of artificial skin, as they can also be used, along with growth factors and cells grown in vitro, for developing bioengineered tissues to be implanted. Among the growth factors that can be used to induce keratinocytes growth in vitro, epiregulin, a broad-specificity epidermal growth factor (EGF) family member, has been shown to be more effective than EGF and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-α) in promoting re-epithelization in vitro. To produce a drug-delivery hydrogel for epiregulin, bovine gelatin was cross-linked with poly(glutamic acid) (PLG) in the presence of epiregulin (5–50 ng/ml). Spontaneously immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT) were seeded on unloaded and epiregulin-loaded hydrogels and cell adhesion was evaluated after 6 h. Moreover, cell proliferation and stratification, cytokeratins (K5, K10), differentiation markers (filaggrin and transglutaminase-1 (TG-1)) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2, MMP-9 and MMP-28) expression were evaluated after 7 days. The presence of epiregulin induced an increase in cell proliferation, stratification and K5 expression along with MMP-9 and MMP-28 expression, while all differentiation markers expression (K10, filaggrin, TG-1) was decreased. These data indicated that a simple hydrogel loaded with epiregulin could be an effective tool for skin tissue engineering.     

Membranes from acrylonitrile-based polymers for selective cultivation of human keratinocytes

A cell carrier made from synthetic material supporting selective growth of keratinocytes is a promising approach to avoid the phenomenon of fibroblast overgrowth during in vitro culture of skin substitutes. Therefore, we investigated polymer membranes made of polyacrylonitrile and copolymers of acrylonitrile and N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) for their ability to support selectively the growth of keratinocytes. It was found that a copolymer with an NVP-content of 30% (NVP30) supports growth of human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) cells and inhibits fibroblast growth under serum-containing conditions. Cell proliferation of HaCaT cells was measured over 14 days. If both cell types were cultured under serum-free conditions for initial adhesion over 6 h on these NVP30 polymers, they adhered to the same extent. Long-term experiments over 7 days were performed as a coculture of both cell types showing that HaCaT cells had a growth advantage that seems to be related to the paracrine activity of contaminating fibroblasts. As a result, confluent layers of HaCaT cells were obtained with small numbers of remaining fibroblasts. The new poly [acrylonitrile-co(NVP) membranes seem to be a promising culture system for the production of epidermal transplants.     

Collaborative Cell-Resistant Properties of Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Films and Surface PEGylation on Reducing Cell Adhesion to Cytophilic Surfaces

Both poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) grafting and layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) deposition for surface modification of biomaterials have been shown to decrease cell adhesion. The aim of this study was to investigate the synergic efficacy of PEGylated PEM films on reducing cell adhesion. PEG grafted to poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) was deposited onto the top of PEI/PAA (poly(acrylic acid)) multilayer films which were deposited onto cytophilic substrates, including tissue culture polystyrene and collagen-based substrate. The efficacy of the PEGylated PEM films in blocking adhesion of L929 cells was investigated by varying the amount of conjugated PEG and the layer numbers of PEM films. We found that cell adhesion was reduced on the swollen PEM films and further decreased by deposition of PEI-g-PEG as the topmost layer. The ability in cell resistance was enhanced with increasing PEG contents of PEGylated PEM films. PEGylated PEM films were stable for long-term incubation in phosphate-buffered saline. We demonstrated that cell affinity of cytophilic surfaces could be depressed by deposition of PEGylated PEM films.     

Multi-layered culture of human skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes through three-dimensional freeform fabrication

We present a method to create multi-layered engineered tissue composites consisting of human skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes which mimic skin layers. Three-dimensional (3D) freeform fabrication (FF) technique, based on direct cell dispensing, was implemented using a robotic platform that prints collagen hydrogel precursor, fibroblasts and keratinocytes. A printed layer of cell-containing collagen was crosslinked by coating the layer with nebulized aqueous sodium bicarbonate. The process was repeated in layer-by-layer fashion on a planar tissue culture dish, resulting in two distinct cell layers of inner fibroblasts and outer keratinocytes. In order to demonstrate the ability to print and culture multi-layered cell–hydrogel composites on a non-planar surface for potential applications including skin wound repair, the technique was tested on a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) mold with 3D surface contours as a target substrate. Highly viable proliferation of each cell layer was observed on both planar and non-planar surfaces. Our results suggest that organotypic skin tissue culture is feasible using on-demand cell printing technique with future potential application in creating skin grafts tailored for wound shape or artificial tissue assay for disease modeling and drug testing.     

Function follows form: how fibronectin matrix architecture controls cell behaviour

Introduction Fibronectin (FN) matrix assembly is a tightly regulated stepwise process that is initiated by interactions between FN and cell‐surface integrin receptors. Assembly is affected by extracellular factors including availability of FN and the presence of other matrix molecules. In turn, FN matrix activates intracellular signalling pathways via integrin receptors, and these signals regulate cell adhesion, migration and survival. Two kinases immediately downstream of integrins are focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and pp60‐Src. Our results show that activation of these kinases regulates accumulation of FN matrix fibrils and that this process is affected by tenascin‐C, an ECM protein that modulates cell interactions with FN. Methods FN assembly was monitored by indirect immunofluorescence and by immunoblotting of deoxycholate (DOC)‐insoluble matrix material with anti‐FN antibodies. Wild‐type mouse fibroblasts and cells lacking FAKs or Src family kinases (SYF cells) were used. Kinase and phosphatase inhibitors were used to regulate enzyme activities. Results Mouse fibroblasts lacking FAK assemble significantly reduced amounts of FN fibrils and DOC‐insoluble matrix. FAK is phosphorylated by Src family kinases and fibroblasts lacking Src family kinases (SYF cells) or cells treated with PP1, an inhibitor of SYF kinases, also lack FN matrix. The effects of Src activity are most dramatic during the early stages of de novo assembly by fibroblasts implicating this kinase in the initiation process. While FN stimulates FAK, tenascin‐C, an ECM protein that is expressed at sites of cell movement, has the opposite effect on FAK activity. In fibroblasts on a 3D FN matrix, FAK is constitutively phosphorylated. In contrast, FAK is only transiently activated in the presence of tenascin‐C. Concomitant with the absence of FAK phosphorylation is an inability to assemble FN matrix fibrils. Conclusion Our results show that FAKs and Src kinases, which lie downstream of integrins, are essential for efficient initiation of FN matrix assembly. The effects of tenascin‐C on FN matrix and FAK phosphorylation suggest that this protein limits the extent of matrix deposition by regulating FAK activity. Thus, extracellular and intracellular events co‐operate to control FN matrix assembly.     

A novel construct as a cell carrier for tissue engineering

A 3D scaffold, in the form of a foam, with the top surface carrying a micropattern, was constructed from biodegradable polyesters poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid-co-3-hydroxyvaleric acid) (PHBV) and poly(L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide) (P(L/DL)LA) to serve as a substitute for the extracellular matrix (ECM) of tissues with more than one cell type. The construct was tested in vitro for engineering of such tissues using fibroblasts (3T3) and epithelial cells (retinal pigment epithelial cells, D407). The patterned surface was seeded with D407 cells and the foam was seeded with 3T3 cells to represent a tissue with two different cell types. To improve cell adhesion, the construct was treated with fibronectin. The cells were seeded on the construct in a sequence allowing each type time for adhesion. Cell proliferation, studied by MTS assay, was significantly higher than that of tissue culture polystyrene control by day 14. Scanning electron and fluorescence microscopy showed that the foam side of the construct was highly porous and the pores were interconnected and this allowed cell mobility and proliferation. Immunostaining showed collagen deposition, indicating the secretion of the new ECM by the cells. On the film side of the construct D407 cells formed piles in the grooves and covered the surface completely. It was concluded that the 3D P(L/DL)LA-PHBV construct with one micropatterned surface has a serious potential for use as a tissue engineering carrier in the reconstruction of complex tissues with layered organization and different types of cells in each region.     

Evaluation of the cytocompatibility hemocompatibility in vivo bone tissue regenerating capability of different PCL blends

In this study, the optimized formulations of polycaprolactone (PCL) combined with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), gelatin (GEL), and biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) were analyzed in terms of cytocompatibility with bone-related cells, hemocompatibility, and in vivo bone-regenerating capacity to determine their potentials for bone tissue regeneration. Fiber morphology of PCL/GEL and PCL/BCP electrospun mats considerably differs from that of the PCL membrane. Based on the contact angle analyses, the addition of GEL and PLGA was shown to reduce the hydrophobicity of these membranes. The assessment of in vitro cytocompatibility using MC3T3-E1 cells indicated that all of the membranes were suitable for pre-osteoblast proliferation and adhesion, with PCL/BCP having a significantly higher reading after seven days of incubation. The results of the in vitro hemocompatibility of the different fibrous scaffolds suggest that coagulation and platelet adhesion were higher for hydrophobic membranes (PCL and PCL/PLGA), while hemolysis can be associated with fiber morphology. The potential of the membranes for bone regeneration was determined by analyzing the microCT data and tissue sections of samples implanted in 5?mm sized defects (one and two months). Although all of the membranes were suitable for pre-osteoblast proliferation, in vivo bone regeneration after two months was found to be significantly higher in PCL/BCP (p?相似文献   

Preparation and characterization of electrospun PLGA/gelatin nanofibers as a drug delivery system by emulsion electrospinning

Novel biocompatible poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanofiber mats with favorable biocompatibility and good mechanical strength were prepared, which could serve as an innovative type of tissue engineering scaffold or an ideal controllable drug delivery system. Both hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs, Cefradine and 5-fluorouracil were successfully loaded into PLGA nanofiber mats by emulsion electrospinning. The natural bioactive protein gelatin (GE) was incorporated into the nanofiber mats to improve the surface properties of the materials for cell adhesion. Nanofibrous scaffolds were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, contact angle and tensile measurements. Emulsion electrospun fibers with GE had perfect hydrophilic and good mechanical property. The in vitro release test showed thedrugs released from emulsion electrospun fibers, which achieved lower burst release. The cells cytotoxicity experiment indicated that emulsion electrospun fibers were less toxic and tended to promote fibroblasts cells attachment and proliferation, which implied that the electrospun fibers had promising potential application in tissue engineering or drug delivery.     

Surface modification of poly(hydroxybutyrate) films to control cell-matrix adhesion

Tailoring surface properties of degradable polymer scaffolds is key to progress in various tissue engineering strategies. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) thin films were modified by low pressure ammonia plasma, low pressure water vapour plasma, or immersion in a sodium hydroxide solution to elaborate means to control the cell-matrix adhesion of human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells grown on these materials. Fibronectin (FN) heteroexchange and cell adhesion were correlated to the physicochemical characteristics of the modified polymer surfaces which were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning force microscopy (SFM), electrokinetic measurements, and contact angle measurements. All treatments increased the hydrophilicity of the polymer samples, which could be accounted to newly created amine or carboxyl functionalities for ammonia plasma or water vapour plasma treatments, respectively, and ester hydrolysis for treatments with alkaline aqueous solutions. Main features of cell adhesion and FN reorganisation-evaluated after 1h and after 5 days-could be attributed to the anchorage strength of pre-coated FN layers at the polymer surface, which was, in turn found to be triggered by the type of modification applied. In line with earlier studies referring to different materials cell adhesion and matrix reorganisation were shown to be sensitively controlled through the physicochemical profile of poly(hydroxybutyrate) surfaces.