Transcriptomic analysis of the human macrophage response to 13 polymeric materials.

However, reliable in vitro assays to predict this fibrotic response are currently lacking, limiting the ability to generate human-relevant preclinical data. In this study, we used THP-1-derived human macrophages to evaluate cellular responses relevant for in vitro prediction of fibrosis across six groups of polymeric materials with varying surface texture, chemical composition, stiffness, or porosity.

Cell death, metabolism, cytokine secretion, and transcriptomic profiles were assessed and compared to previously characterised in vivo fibrosis outcomes. All assays were able to distinguish between high and low fibrosis-inducing materials within one or more material groups. Importantly, different biomaterials differentially modulated the various readouts, with some assays showing greater sensitivity to specific material properties than others.