In vitro assessment of the pro-inflammatory potential of beta-hairpin peptide hydrogels.

ABSTRACT: The pro-inflammatory potential of beta-hairpin peptide hydrogels (MAX1 and MAX8) was assessed in vitro by measuring the cellular response of J774 mouse peritoneal macrophages cultured on the hydrogel surfaces. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the level of TNF-alpha, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, secreted by cells cultured on the gel surfaces. Both bulk and thin films of gels did not elicit TNF-alpha secretion from the macrophages. In addition, live/dead assays employing laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and phase-contrast light micrographs show the hydrogel surfaces are non-cytotoxic toward the macrophages and allow the cells to adopt healthy morphologies. When macrophages were activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a known bacterial pathogen that a

SUBMITTER: Haines-Butterick LA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2645339 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature