Attachment of cultured human bone cells to novel polymers

The initial attachment of human bone-derived cells (HBDC) to several polyme r systems has been studied 62 vitro. A novel polymer system based on poly(e thyl methacrylate) polymer and tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate monomer (PEM A/THFMA) was compared with a variant in which THFMA was replaced by 2-hydro xyethyl methacrylate (PEMA/HEMA). Tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) and pol ystyrene (PS) were used as reference materials. The ability of the substrat es to adsorb the attachment glycoproteins fibronectin (Fn) and vitronectin (Vn) from serum and the subsequent effect on radiolabeled HBDC attachment w ere 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 ab out 25% of this level, and on PS it was only 10% of that on TCPS. Attachmen t of HBDC to all substrates was dependent on the presence of Vn, which, unl ike In, was able to adsorb in the face of competition from other serum comp onents. Both Vn and Fn were able to support cell attachment when precoated onto all substrates. In comparison to TCPS, PEMA/THFMA did not show enhance d adsorption of either Fn or Vn from serum, and this was reflected in the l evel of cell attachment. Interestingly, the potency of preadsorbed Fn for c ell attachment was much higher on this substrate than on any other: 45 ng/c m(2) In when adsorbed to PEMA/THFMA gave a level of cell attachment 1.6-fol d higher than the same density of Fn on PS or TCPS. The maximum Fn surface density achieved on HEMA/PEMA was 16 ng/cm(2). Cells on PEMA/THFMA showed t ypical clustering of the alpha(5) beta(1) Fn receptor, but this was not evi dent in cells attached to PEMA/HEMA even when precoated with In. This study indicates that the initial attachment of HBDC to all substrates was Vn dep endent. It also indicates that on PEMA/THFMA the favorable presentation of subsequently adsorbed In may assist matrix assembly. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.