Elutable factors from latex-containing materials activate complement and inhibit cell proliferation. An in vitro biocompatibility study of medical devices

Eluates from one all-silicone and two different combined silicone-latex catheters and one latex and one vinyl procedure glove were mixed with normal human serum and tested in a C3 complement activation assay. Simultaneously the eluates were tested in a cellular assay to measure inhibition of cellular proliferation. The combined silicone-latex catheters and the latex procedure glove caused a pronounced complement activation and inhibited cell proliferation. However, the response ranging was opposite in the two assays, suggesting that different soluble factors were responsible for the observed reactions. No complement activation or inhibition of cellular proliferation was observed for the all-silicone catheter and the vinyl procedure glove. Our results demonstrate that different assays should be taken into account when biocompatibility is evaluated.