A NEW BACTERIAL CELLULOSE SUBSTRATE FOR MAMMALIAN-CELL CULTURE - A NEW BACTERIAL CELLULOSE SUBSTRATE

A new substrate for mammalian cell culture was developed using a cellu lose membrane produced by Acetobacter aceti. Modification of the ionic charge of the membrane and adsorption of collagen to it promoted cell ular adhesion to the membrane surface. The growth of eight kinds of ce lls on the membrane, was comparable to that achieved in plastic Petri dishes. The membrane was tested for use in the production of recombina nt Erythroid Differentiation Factor (EDF)/activin A using genetically engineered Chinese hamster ovary cells. Both the viability of the cell s and production of EDF/activin A were maintained for about 1 month, w hile cultures on plastic dishes lasted only 12 days. It was considered that the mechanism of improved cell viability was related to the ultr astructure of the cellulose membrane.