The effect of surface hydrophilicity on biomaterial-leukocyte interactions.

Leukocyte adhesion onto a series of polyetherurethanes containing various ratios of polyethylene oxide (PEO) to polytetramethylene oxide (PTMO) in the soft segment was evaluated using an in vitro series shunt. The deposition of polymorphonuclear (PMN) and mononuclear (MN) leukocytes was measured quantitatively using labelling techniques. Results showed that H/H-1, the most hydrophobic surface, adsorbed higher amounts of PMN leukocytes. It was also observed that for most materials the number of PMN and MN leukocytes deposited reached a plateau within 15 minutes. Unlike MN adherence, the presence of plasma proteins increased the number of PMN leukocytes deposited on the materials.