The influence of functional groups of self-assembled monolayers on fibrous capsule formation and cell recruitment.

The contribution of the surface chemistry of an implant to the thickness of the fibrous capsule formed after implantation was herein investigated. For that, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of alkanethiols on gold with different terminal functional groups (COOH, OH, and CH(3)) were used. These surfaces were implanted in subcutaneous air pouches of BALB/c mice and the ensuing fibrous capsules were evaluated and compared with the initial inflammatory response caused by the implant. The thickness of the fibrous capsules that are under organization around the implant was measured 1 week after implantation by histology. Inflammatory exudates were collected from the air pouches 24 h after the implantation of SAMs and were analyzed by flow cytometry. A significant increase in the thickness of fibrous capsules was seen around implanted CH(3)-terminated SAMs, and also in gold surfaces, in comparison with the air pouch wall of sham-operated mice and of COOH- and OH-covered SAMs. The CH(3)-coated implants also recruited higher numbers of inflammatory cells; this enhancement involved a significant number of Mac-1(+) cells. Our data indicate that implant surfaces coated with CH(3) induce thick fibrous capsules and this may be the result of the stronger inflammatory effect of CH(3) in comparison with COOH or OH chemical groups.