Interactions between human whole blood and modified TiO2-surfaces: influence of surface topography and oxide thickness on leukocyte adhesion and activation

An in vitro model (Nygren et al., J Lab Clin Med 129 (1997) 35–46) was used to investigate interactions between leukocytes and four modified TiO2-surfaces. Surface topography was measured using scanning electron microscopy and optical profilometry while Auger electron spectroscopy was used to determine surface composition and oxide thickness. The surfaces were either smooth or rough with either thin or thick oxides. All surfaces consisted of TiO2 covered by a carbonaceous layer. The surfaces were incubated with capillary blood for time periods of between 8 min and 32 h. Immunofluorescence techniques together with computer aided image analysis and chemiluminescence technique were used to detect cell adhesion, expression of adhesion receptors and the zymosan-stimulated respiratory burst response. Leukocyte adhesion to the surfaces increased during the first hours of blood–material contact and then decreased. Polymorphonuclear granulocytes were the dominating leukocytes on all surfaces followed by monocytes. Cells adhering to rough surfaces had higher normalized expression of adhesive receptors than cells on smooth surfaces. Maximum respiratory burst response occurred earlier on the smooth than on the rough surfaces. In conclusion, topography had a greater impact than oxide thickness on most cellular reactions investigated, but the latter often had a dampening effect on the responses.