Neutrophils at the Biological-Material Interface

Abstract

Integral to the development of new biomaterials is the characterization of immune responses to biomaterial implants, and formulating methods to overcome or utilize these actions for therapeutic benefit. Neutrophils are an essential component of the immune response against biomaterials, but studies on the neutrophil-biomaterial interaction have been largely limited to characterizing their role in establishing an inflammatory microenvironment and antimicrobial activity at implant surfaces. Recent advances in neutrophil biology, especially recognition of their cellular heterogeneity, ability to suppress immune responses, the identification of a new process of cell death, and crosstalk with other immune cell types, have brought about a fundamental change in our perception regarding the activities of neutrophils. Herein, in the context of the progress in our comprehension of neutrophil function, potential avenues for effectively employing neutrophil activity to develop the next generation of regenerative biomaterials are discussed.

Keywords: fibrosis; foreign body response; polymorphonuclear cells; tissue engineering.