John G. Steele

Mechanism of initial attachment of cells derived from human bone to commonly used prosthetic materials during cell culture

The suitability of polymeric biomaterials as surfaces for the attachment and growth of cells has often been investigated in cell culture. In this study the contribution that serum fibronectin (Fn) or vitronectin (Vn) make to the attachment and spreading of cells cultured from explanted human bone (bone-derived cells) during the first 90 min of culture was determined for metallic and ceramic surfaces. The requirement for Fn or Vn for attachment and spreading of bone-derived cells onto stainless steel 316 (SS), titanium (Ti) and alumina (Al2O3) and to polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) was directly tested by selective removal of Fn or Vn from the serum prior to addition to the culture medium. Attachment and spreading of bone-derived cells onto SS, Ti and Al2O3 surfaces were reduced by 73-83% when the cells were seeded in medium containing serum from which the Vn had been removed. Cell attachment and spreading on these surfaces when seeded in medium containing Fn-depleted serum (which contained Vn) were not reduced to the same extent as in the medium containing Vn-depleted serum. The bone-derived cells failed to attach to the surfaces to the same extent when seeded in medium containing serum depleted of both Vn and Fn. Our results show that for human bone-derived cells, the attachment and spreading of cells onto SS, Ti and Al2O3 as well as PET during the first 90 min of a cell culture attachment assay are a function of adsorption of serum Vn onto the surface.

Adsorption of fibronectin and vitronectin onto Primaria™ and tissue culture polystyrene and relationship to the mechanism of initial attachment of human vein endothelial cells and BHK-21 fibroblasts

The two cell culture substrata, tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) and Primaria, were compared in order to determine whether a nitrogen-containing surface such as Primaria attracts cells by a different mechanism to an oxygen-containing surface (TCPS). The amounts of vitronectin (Vn) and fibronectin (Fn) which adsorb from the fetal bovine serum (FBS) component of the culture medium onto Primaria and TCPS were determined. Primaria adsorbed two- to threefold more Fn than TCPS, but adsorbed similar amounts of Vn from medium containing FBS. The Fn and Vn binding sites on Primaria were distinct, as adsorption was non-competitive between these two proteins. The amounts of Fn and Vn that adsorbed onto the two surfaces were compared to the concentration dependence of the cell attachment activities of Fn and Vn. Whereas the amounts of Fn which adsorbed onto TCPS were suboptimal for cell attachment, Primaria adsorbed an Fn surface density that was supraoptimal for attachment of human vein endothelial cells and BHK-21 fibroblasts. We conclude that Primaria differs from TCPS in that both Fn and Vn mediate initial cell attachment to Primaria when the culture medium contains FBS, whereas cell attachment to TCPS is dependent upon Vn.

Protein adsorption and cell attachment to patterned surfaces

To better understand the events involved in the generation of defined tissue architectures on biomaterials, we have examined the mechanism of attachment of human bone-derived cells (HBDC) to surfaces with patterned surface chemistry in vitro. Photolithography was used to generate alternating domains of N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyl-trimethoxysilane (EDS) and dimethyldichlorosilane (DMS). At 90 min after seeding, HBDC were localized preferentially to the EDS regions of the pattern. Using sera specifically depleted of adhesive glycoproteins, this spatial organization was found to be mediated by adsorption of vitronectin (Vn) from serum onto the EDS domains. In contrast, fibronectin (Fn) was unable to adsorb in the face of competition from other serum components. These results were confirmed by immunostaining, which also revealed that both Vn and Fn were able to adsorb to EDS and DMS regions when coated from pure solution, i.e., in the absence of competition. In this situation, each protein was able to mediate cell adhesion across a range of surface densities. Cell spreading was constrained on the EDS domains, as indicated by cell morphology and the lack of integrin receptor clustering and focal adhesion formation. This spatial constraint may have implications for the subsequent expression of differentiated function.

Attachment of human bone cells to tissue culture polystyrene and to unmodified polystyrene: the effect of surface chemistry upon initial cell attachment

Cell culture studies have often been used in the determination of the suitability of biomaterials as surfaces for the attachment and growth of cells. For such studies of surfaces for potential use in bone implants, cells derived from bone may be maintained in culture on tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS). We have determined the contribution that serum fibronectin (FN) or vitronectin (VN) make to the attachment and spreading of cells cultured from explanted human bone (bone-derived cells) during the first 90 min following seeding on culture surfaces. The attachment of bone-derived cells to TCPS was simulated two-fold by the addition of 10% (v/v) fetal bovine serum (FBS) to the seeding culture medium. The roles of FN and VN were determined by selective removal of the FN or VN from the FBS prior to addition to the culture medium. FBS from which the VN had been removed did not have this stimulatory activity. In contrast, the attachment of bone-derived cells onto TCPS from medium containing FN-depleted serum (which contained VN) was the same as when intact FBS was used. There was incomplete attachment of bone-derived cells (27% of cells) when seeded in medium containing FBS depleted of both VN and FN. Our results show that for human bone-derived cells, the attachment onto TCPS of cells planted in medium containing FBS during the first 90 min of culture is principally as a result of adsorption onto the surface of serum VN. As unmodified polystyrene (PS) has also been used previously as a model biomaterial surface, PS was compared to TCPS for attachment of the bone-derived cells. Attachment of bone-derived cells to TCPS was twice that onto PS, both when the medium was serum-free and when it contained FBS. Bone-derived cells attached to TCPS or PS onto which purified VN or FN had been precoated, with VN adsorbed onto PS being as effective as was VN adsorbed onto TCPS. With FN, there was an effect of the polystyrene surface chemistry which was evident in that suboptimal concentrations of FN had a slightly higher potency when adsorbed onto TCPS than did the same concentrations of FN coated onto PS. When preadsorbed onto TCPS, the potency of FN for attachment of bone-derived cells was at least equal to that of VN.

Attachment of cultured human bone cells to novel polymers

The initial attachment of human bone-derived cells (HBDC) to several polymer systems has been studied in vitro. A novel polymer system based on poly(ethyl methacrylate) polymer and tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate monomer (PEMA/THFMA) was compared with a variant in which THFMA was replaced by 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (PEMA/HEMA). Tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) and polystyrene (PS) were used as reference materials. The ability of the substrates to adsorb the attachment glycoproteins fibronectin (Fn) and vitronectin (Vn) from serum and the subsequent effect on radiolabeled HBDC attachment were examined. Initial cell attachment from the medium containing 10% (v/v) serum was highest on TCPS; on PEMA/THFMA and PEMA/HEMA substrates it was about 25% of this level, and on PS it was only 10% of that on TCPS. Attachment of HBDC to all substrates was dependent on the presence of Vn, which, unlike Fn, was able to adsorb in the face of competition from other serum components. Both Vn and Fn were able to support cell attachment when precoated onto all substrates. In comparison to TCPS, PEMA/THFMA did not show enhanced adsorption of either Fn or Vn from serum, and this was reflected in the level of cell attachment. Interestingly, the potency of preadsorbed Fn for cell attachment was much higher on this substrate than on any other: 45 ng/cm2 Fn when adsorbed to PEMA/THFMA gave a level of cell attachment 1.6-fold higher than the same density of Fn on PS or TCPS. The maximum Fn surface density achieved on HEMA/PEMA was 16 ng/cm2. Cells on PEMA/THFMA showed typical clustering of the alpha5 beta1 Fn receptor, but this was not evident in cells attached to PEMA/HEMA even when precoated with Fn. This study indicates that the initial attachment of HBDC to all substrates was Vn dependent. It also indicates that on PEMA/THFMA the favorable presentation of subsequently adsorbed Fn may assist matrix assembly.

Modulation of corneal epithelial stratification by polymer surface topography

The topography and porosity of a polymer may affect the epithelialization of a corneal implant. We used an in vitro model to examine the effect of polymer surface topography on corneal epithelial tissue stratification and the deposition of proteins associated with epithelial adhesion. A range of topographies was provided by polycarbonate membranes with nominal pore diameters of 0.1, 0.4, 0.8, 1.0, 2.0, or 3.0 microm and a nonporous surface. Stratification of epithelial tissue outgrowth on these surfaces was evaluated using light and electron microscopy. Deposition of proteins associated with basement membrane and adhesion complex formation at the tissue-polymer interface was assessed using immunohistochemistry. Surfaces with pores in the 0.1-0.8-microm-diameter range supported superior stratification and protein deposition compared with those containing pores of > or = 1.0 microm. Cytoplasmic processes penetrated single pores 2.0 and 3.0 microm in diameter and fused pores 1.0 microm in diameter. Tissue on the nonporous surface had a lower level of stratification compared with surfaces with pores 0.1-0.8 microm in diameter. These results point to the significance of surface topography in biomaterial applications that require persistent epithelialization.

Polymer surface chemistry and a novel attachment mechanism in corneal epithelial cells.

The initial attachment reaction of most cultured cell types to polymers is based on a linkage of integrin receptors to serum-derived fibronectin and vitronectin that adsorb onto the polymer surface. Recently isolated corneal epithelial cells have an additional attachment mechanism, known to operate on tissue culture polystyrene, which involves endogenous protein synthesis and an intact system of microtubules. Here, we determine if this novel attachment mechanism is operative on polymers of different surface chemistries. The attachment, growth, and deposition of basement membrane proteins by corneal epithelial cells was compared on two hydrophilic surfaces (tissue culture polystyrene and Primaria) and one relatively hydrophobic surface (unmodified polystyrene). Superior levels of cell attachment were found on the hydrophilic polymers, but cells also attached effectively to the hydrophobic surface. Growth rates showed that the cells were able to overcome the differential effects of polymer surface chemistry during a 7-day time period. Polymer surface chemistry had subtle effects on the temporal pattern of biosynthesis of extracellular matrix proteins likely to be involved in cell adhesion. These results show that effective attachment and growth can occur on a hydrophobic polymer when corneal epithelial cells use the endogenous attachment mechanism.

Adhesion and growth of cultured human endothelial cells on perfluorosulphonate: pole of vitronectin and fibponectin in cell attachment

The suitability of neutralized perfluorosulphonic acid (Nafion) as a surface for the attachment and growth of human cells was investigated in tissue culture. Nafion was equivalent to tissue culture polystyrene (TCP), and markedly better than polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon), for the attachment and growth of human umbilical artery endothelial (HUAE) cells. The attachment and growth of HUAE cells on Fn-coated Nafion was equivalent to that on Fn-coated TCP. The contribution to the attachment and spreading of HUAE cells that is due to adsorption of serum fibronectin (Fn) or vitronectin (Vn) on to the Nafion or TCP was directly tested by selective removal of Fn or Vn from the serum before addition to the culture medium. HUAE cells seeded on to Nafion or TCP in medium depleted of Vn failed to attach and spread on to these surfaces, as measured after 4 or 24 h of culture. HUAE cells seeded in medium depleted of Fn, but containing Vn, attached and spread on to Nafion, albeit to a decreased extent as compared to that in intact serum when measured after 4 h of culture, and there was no effect of depletion of Fn when measured after 24 h of culture. HUAE cells seeded on to TCP in medium depleted of Fn became attached and spread during 4 h of culture. Our results show that Nafion is a suitable polymeric surface for the attachment and growth of human cells, including endothelial cells. For HUAE cells, adsorption on to the surface of an adhesive glycoprotein, such as Vn or Fn, is an essential step for attachment and spreading of the cells onto the Nafion surface.

Effect of porosity and surface hydrophilicity on migration of epithelial tissue over synthetic polymer

The relative effects of porosity and surface chemistry on the migration of epithelial tissue over the surface of a polymer were determined in vitro. These studies compared nonporous polymers with those having 0.1-microm diameter track-etched pores and were conducted on polycarbonate and polyester. Epithelial tissue migration over the polymer surface was stimulated by the presence of these pores. The surface chemistries of the polymers were modified by deposition of various polymer films using radio frequency gas deposition, giving a range of surfaces that varied in air:water sessile contact angle (SCA) of between 26 and 100 degrees. Tissue migration on the nonporous surfaces was affected by the surface chemistry, being generally linear as a function of the SCA and higher on hydrophilic than on hydrophobic surfaces but reduced if the hydrophilic surface had a mobile chemistry. The effects of the 0.1-microm diameter pores and the surface hydrophilicity were additive with the maximal level of epithelial tissue migration occurring on a porous, hydrophilic polymer surface.

Peptoid-containing collagen mimetics with cell binding activity.

Collagen mimetic peptides containing the peptoid residue Nleu (Goodman Bhumralkar, Jefferson, Kwak, Locardi. Biopolymers 1998;47:127-142) were tested for interactions with epithelial cells and fibroblasts. Molecules containing the sequence Gly-Pro-Nleu with a minimum of nine repeats showed cell binding activity. The activity of these molecules appeared to be conformationally sensitive, with the triple-helical form being preferred. When immobilized on a surface, the (Gly-Pro-Nleu)(10)-Gly-Pro-NH(2) sequence stimulated the attachment and growth of corneal epithelial cells and fibroblasts and the migration of epithelial tissue. The peptide sequence KDGEA inhibited cell attachment to the (Gly-Pro-Nleu)(10)-Gly-Pro-NH(2) sequence, suggesting that cell binding to this collagen mimetic involves the alpha2beta1 heterodimer integrin receptor. Interestingly, peptides containing the sequence (GlyNleu-Pro-)(10)-NH(2) did not have cell binding activity. The discovery that triple-helical peptides containing the Gly-Pro-Nleu sequences interact with cells opens up new opportunities in the design of collagen mimetic biomaterials.