Research Interests
• Interaction of cells and proteins with foreign materials
• Anti-thrombotic peptide
• Antibiotic delivery
Contact Information
Department of Bioengineering
University of Washington
Box 355061
William H. Foege Building, Room N310H
Phone: 206-685-1392
Fax: 206-543-3778
E-mail: thomas.horbett@gmail.com
Research Description
The projects under way in the Horbett lab reflect longstanding interests in the fundamental response of tissues to implanted polymeric biomaterials. Activities include:
- Proteins at interfaces. Protein adsorption is intimately involved in blood clotting and foreign body reactions to implanted prosthetic materials, optimization of substrates used to grow cells in culture, contact lens clouding, and many other biological phenomena at interfaces. The Horbett group maintains a substantial and multifaceted research program focused on the behavior of proteins at the solid/liquid interface of biomedically relevant polymers. Our recent work has focused on: 1. Study of the expression of the cell binding domains of adsorbed cell adhesion proteins on polyurethanes and other polymers, as detected with monoclonal antibodies. 2. Passivation of glucose sensors with adsorbed proteins to improve their longevity in vivo. 3. Prevention of protein uptake with ultralow adsorption non-fouling surfaces.
- Cell interactions with surfaces. Biocompatibility of implants, the growth of cells in culture, and indeed even our own existence depends on the fact that most cells prefer to exist on some kind of extracellular support, to which they bind through a wide variety of specific adhesion receptors on the cell surface. Controlling cell behavior by creating new surfaces is the focus of our efforts. The mechanisms by which the surface properties of polymeric biomaterials control cell behavior via the adhesion receptors and attachment factors are being studied extensively in our labs. We are heavily involved in efforts to understand platelet adhesion and activation on polymers, especially polyurethanes. The biggest effort, however, is on the perfection of materials that prevent platelet and monocyte adhesion by reducing fibrinogen adsorption to ultralow amounts.
Teaching Activities
- BIOEN 490: Biomaterials
- BIOEN 491: Controlled Release
- BIOEN 586: Tissue Engineering
- BIOEN 511: Biomaterials Seminar
- BIOEN 577: Cell Protein Reactions
- BIOEN 590: Advanced Biomaterials
Honors and Awards
| 1989 |
Clemson Award for Basic Research, Society for Biomaterials |
| 1989 |
Distinguished Lecturer in Controlled Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, Rutgers University |
| 1995 |
Fellow, American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering |
| 1996 |
Fellow, Biomaterials Science and Engineering (FBSE) of the World Biomaterials Congress |
Professional Experience
| 1961-65 |
New York Regents Scholarship, Biochemistry, SUNY Forestry, Syracuse, NY |
| 1961-70 |
National Institutes of Health, Predoctoral Traineeship, Biochemistry |
| 1970-71 |
National Institutes of Health, Senior Fellow, Biochemistry |
| 1971-72 |
National Institutes of Health, Postdoctoral Traineeship |
| 1973-75 |
Research Associate, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington |
| 1975-79 |
Research Assistant Professor, Departments of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, University of Washington |
| 1979-85 |
Research Associate Professor, Departments of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, University of Washington |
| 1985-88 |
Research Professor, Departments of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, University of Washington |
| 1988- |
Professor, Departments of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, University of Washington |
Selected Publications
- "Variations in the ability of adsorbed fibrinogen to mediate platelet adhesion to polystyrene-based materials: a multivariate statistical analysis of antibody binding to the platelet binding sites of fibrinogen", W.-B. Tsai, J. Grunkemeier, T. A. Horbett. J Biomed Mater Res 67A: 1255-1268 (2003).
- "Multivariate surface analysis characterization of plasma deposited tetraglyme surface chemistry for reduction of protein adsorption and monocyte adhesion" by M. Shen, M. S. Wagner, D. G. Castner, B. D. Ratner, and T. A. Horbett. Langmuir 19, 1692-1699 (2003).
- "PEO-like plasma polymerized tetraglyme surface interactions with leukocytes and proteins: in vitro and in vivo studies" by M. Shen, L. Martinson, M. S. Wagner, D. G. Castner, B. D. Ratner, and T. A. Horbett. Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition 13, 367-390 (2002).
- "Biological activity of adsorbed proteins" by T. A. Horbett. Chapter 15, pages 393-413 in Biopolymers at Interfaces, Second edition, revised and expanded. Martin Malmsten, editor. Marcel Dekker, Inc. NY, NY (2003)
- "Co-Adsorbed Fibrinogen and von Willebrand Factor Augment Platelet Procoagulant Activity and Spreading" by J. M. Grunkemeier, W. B. Tsai, and T. A. Horbett. J. Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition 12, 1-20 (2001).
- "The effects of surface chemistry and adsorbed proteins on monocyte/macrophage adhesion to chemically modified polystyrene surfaces" by M. Shen and T. A. Horbett. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, 57, 336-345 (2001).
- "Inhibition of monocyte adhesion and fibrinogen adsorption on glow discharge plasma deposited tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether" by M. Shen, Y. V. Pan, M. S. Wagner, K. D. Hauch, D. G. Castner, B. D. Ratner, and T. A. Horbett. Journal of Biomaterials Science Polymer Edition 12,961-978(2001).
- "Platelet Adhesion to Polystyrene-based Surfaces Preadsorbed with Plasmas Selectively Depleted in Fibrinogen, Fibronectin, Vitronectin or von Willebrand's Factor" by W. -B. Tsai, J. M. Grunkemeier, C. D. McFarland and T. A. Horbett. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research 60, 348-359 (2002)
- "The Effect of Adsorbed Fibrinogen, Fibronectin, von Willebrand Factor and Vitronectin on the Procoagulant State of Adherent Platelets" by J. M. Grunkemeier, W. B. Tsai, C. D. McFarland, and T. A. Horbett. Biomaterials 21, 2243-252 (2000).
- "Platelet adhesion and procoagulant activity induced by contact with radio frequency glow discharge polymers: roles of adsorbed fibrinogen and vWF" by J. Grunkemeier, W. B. Tsai, M. R. Alexander, D. G. Castner, and T. A. Horbett. J. Biomed. Mater. Res.51, 669-679 (2000).
- W.-B. Tsai and T. A. Horbett, Human plasma fibrinogen adsorption and platelet adhesion to polystyrene. J. Biomedical Materials Research 44,130-139, 1999.
- J. M. Grunkemeier, W.-B. Tsai, and T. A. Horbett, Hemocompatibility of Treated Polystyrene Substrates: Contact Activation, Platelet Adhesion and Procoagulant Activity of Adherent Platelets, J. Biomedical Materials Research 41, 657-670, 1998.
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