Dynamic Systems Model for Lymphocyte Interactions with Macrophages at Biomaterial Surfaces

A mechanistic mathematical model of cell population dynamics was developed to describe lymphocyte interactions with macrophages at biomaterial surfaces. The chemical properties of a biomaterial surface are expected to modulate its interaction with cells. Quantitative aspects of the relationship of surface characteristics to cellular adhesion were studied. Surfaces with hydrophobic, hydrophilic/neutral, hydrophilic/anionic, and hydrophilic/cationic characteristics were used in an in vitro co-culture system. The mathematical model represents monocyte adherence onto the surface, differentiation into macrophages, and fusion into foreign body giant cells (FBGCs) as well as concurrent lymphocyte adherence onto the surface and interaction with monocytes, macrophages, and FBGCs. Also, the model describes apoptosis and detachment of adherent monocytes, macrophages, and lymphocytes from the surface as well as proliferation of adherent lymphocytes. Based on this mechanistic model, computer simulations simulate the dynamic responses of these cell populations in the presence of different biomaterial surfaces. This computational model provides a major advance toward quantitative predictability of biomaterial-dependent cellular adhesion processes.