Surface characterization, protein adsorption, and initial cell-surface reactions on glutathione and 3-mercapto-1,2,-propanediol immobilized to gold.

Monolayers of glutathione (GSH) and 3-mercapto-1,2-propanediol (MG) on gold were tested for their bioreactivity by assessing the degree of inflammatory reaction as manifested by the adherence and activation of platelets and white blood cells (wbc) after exposure to blood ex vivo. Surface composition was characterized by XPS, and noncontact optical profilometry was used to determine surface roughness. The thickness and composition of the adsorbed protein layers were measured by ellipsometry/antibody techniques in vitro. Cell adhesion and activation were quantified by acridine orange staining, fluorescein-diacetate staining, and by specific antibodies against cell membrane antigens. Distinct differences among the surfaces were observed relative to the amounts and composition of adsorbed plasma proteins and the adhesion and activation of platelets (CD62P-exposure) and wbc (CD11b/CD18-exposure). GSH surfaces, which adsorbed the least amount of plasma protein, caused the least adherence and activation of platelets (CD62P), followed by the highest activation of wbc (CD11b/18). The MG surfaces caused a rapid recruitment and activation of platelets (CD62P), followed by a lower activation of wbc (CD11b/18). Thus it appears that measurements of the initial adsorption of plasma protein from anticoagulated plasma and of the adhesion and activation of platelets after 8 min of exposure to whole blood cannot be used to predict accurately the adhesion and activation behavior of inflammatory cells after longer periods (2 h) of exposure on different surfaces.