ENDOTHELIAL-CELL DIFFERENTIATION INTO CAPILLARY STRUCTURES BY COPOLYMER SURFACES WITH PHENYLBORONIC ACID GROUPS

A ternary copolymer composed of m-acrylamidophenylboronic acid, N,N-di methylaminopropylmethacrylamide and N-isopropylacrylamide was synthesi zed. Long-term culture of bovine aortic endothelial cells on this copo lymer substrate demonstrated adhesion and proliferation of the cells. After 26 days in culture, endothelial cells spontaneously developed in to capillary networks. The interactions between phenylboronic acid gro ups in copolymer and glycoconjugates on endothelial cell plasma membra nes are proposed to regulate the induction of tissue formation, since phenylboronic acid groups are known to specifically form reversible co mplexes with cis-diol compounds such as glucose. This copolymer is a n ovel material capable of mediating specific signals analogous to extra cellular matrix to promote proliferation of endothelial cells, inducin g capillary structures and prompt angiogenesis.