Cell - Surface Interactions in Biotechnology and Biomedicine

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The interactions between cultured, anchorage-dependent mammalian cells and the surfaces upon which they are cultured will be investigated. Primary human endothelial cells and 3T3 cells will be cultured on surfaces whose properties have been systematically altered and carefully controlled. Copolymers of derivitized alkyl methacrylates will be used as the culture surface to determine the effect of surface free energy and chemical moieties such as carboxyl, tertiaryamine, and quaternary amine groups on cell adhesion, cell morphology, and cell metabolism. Cell morphology will be measured microscopically and will include the maximum force of adhesion. The role of specificcell adhesion molecules will also be investigated. Cell metabolism will be investigated by measuring the cell growth rate, the synthesis of extra cellular matrix, the release of growth factors, and there lease of arachidonic acid metabolites. These investigations are important to advances in applied cell culture, both for biotechnological and biomedical use. Biotechnologically, mammalian cell culture is used to produce critical and complex pharmaceuticals, and their performance with respect to the surface characteristics of the bioreactor is poorly understood. Biomedically, tissue replacements are desired which involve live cells attached to some synthetic support structure, for example, blood vessel cells attached to a synthetic tube to serve as an artificial blood vessel. Invariably, some alteration in cell function is observed as a result of the surface interactions, and this can comprise the function of the tissue replacement.