Use of enhanced chemiluminescence to quantify protein adsorption to calcium phosphate materials and microcarrier beads.

The adsorption of serum proteins to calcium phosphate bone substitute materials, positively-charged dextrose and negatively-charged polystyrene microcarrier beads was compared by SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). Protein adsorption to hydroxyapatite (HA)-based materials was influenced by chemical composition. Surface charge sign, distribution and/or functional group affected protein adsorption to microcarrier beads. Enhanced chemiluminescence was used to quantify adsorption of fibronectin and vitronectin following Western blotting, and to monitor the kinetics of adsorption of these two proteins to HA and Biosilon. Relative to total protein, fluctuating levels of fibronectin were detected on both materials. In contrast, vitronectin adsorption increased over the course of the incubation period with maximal relative adsorption detected after 30 min on Biosilon and 60 min on HA.