Morphology of fibroblastic cells cultured on poly(HEMA-co-AA) substrates

Fibroblastic cells in culture are characteristically elongated and grow in monolayers. This growth pattern can be modified by different factors, such as substrate interaction. It is characteristic of hydrogels made of poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (polyHEMA) that they inhibit cellular attachment and spreading. Vero cells were cultured on porous samples of polyHEMA and the copolymer poly(HEMA-co-AA) with 7.5% (w/w) and 15% (w/w) acrylic acid. Cultures were maintained for 2 and 10 days in HAM F10 medium with 10% foetal calf serum. Hydrogel samples were processed for light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The round Vero cells proliferated on the hydrogels and were principally located inside the pores. Some cells were aggregated, but no extracellular matrix was found. The copolymer with 15% (w/w) acrylic acid was the most suitable substrate and should be used in future tests of morphological differentiation and induction of cellular function.10139711512

PolyHEMA and polyHEMA-poly(MMA-co-AA) as substrates for culturing Vero cells

Poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), polyHEMA, is known to prevent cellular attachment and spreading. This hydrogel is used to culture cells not dependent on anchorage. Blending polyHEMA with a copolymer of methyl methacrylate and acrylic acid introduces negative charges to the hydrogel and improves its mechanical characteristics. PolyHEMA and the blend were tested for attachment and proliferation of Vero cells. Dense and porous samples of the hydrogels were used. Attachment assays included cellular quantification with MTT photometry and cellular morphology with the scanning electron microscopy after 2 h culture. Proliferation assays were carried out with 5 and 10 days culture. Cellular morphology included cytochemistry of resin sections and scanning electron microscope observations. Hydrogels allowed a few cells to attach and proliferate. The cells growing on the surface of hydrogels were organized in various layers and showed a differential morphology. Cells located inside the pores remained rounded. The hydrogels showed the possibility of inducing differentiated phenotypic expression. (C) 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers.11954154

Adhesion and morphology of fibroblastic cells cultured on different polymeric biomaterials

Cell adhesion is influenced by the physical and chemical characteristics of the materials used as substrate for cell culturing. In this work, we evaluated the influence of the morphological and chemical characteristics of different polymeric substrates on the adhesion and morphology of fibroblastic cells. Cell growth on poly (L-lactic acid) [PLLA] membranes and poly(2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate) [polyHEMA], poly(2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate)-cellulose acetate [polyHEMA-CA] and poly(2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate)-poly(methyl methacrylate-co-acrylic acid) [polyHEMA-poly(MMA-co-AA)] hydrogels of different densities and pore diameters was examined. Cells adhered preferentially to more negativaly charged substrates, with polyHEMA hydrogels being more adhesive than the other substractes. The pores present in PLLA membranes did not interfere with adhesion, but the cells showed a distinctive morphology on each membrane. (C) 2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers.13986787