PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL-ORIENTED MATS AND STRANDS FROM PLASMA FIBRONECTIN - A MORPHOLOGICAL-STUDY

Fibronectin is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein involved in wound healing. Techniques have been developed for the preparation of orienta ted fibronectin mats from plasma fibronectin, for use in wound healing and tissue repair. Formation of strands and mats is by self-associati on and aggregation of fibronectin from solution under a directional sh ear force. Incorporation of heparin with fibronectin modified the mats . Scanning electron microscopy showed that the mats were composed of w ell-orientated fibrous fibronectin, with a network of internal interco nnecting pores. Single strands of fibronectin were prepared for use as a tissue culture model of cell interaction with aggregated orientated fibronectin mats. Rat tall tendon and human skin fibroblasts were use d for assessment of cell interaction with both single strands of fibro nectin and mats. Fibroblasts rapidly attached to single strands and be came orientated. Dense cultures of fibroblasts growing over single str ands became orientated, according to the orientation of the underlying fibronectin. Fibroblasts readily grew on the surface of fibronectin m ats and were observed within the porous network.