ADHESION OF MAMMALIAN-CELLS TO POLYMER SURFACES - FROM PHYSICAL-CHEMISTRY OF SURFACES TO SELECTIVE ADHESION ON DEFINED PATTERNS

The study of the adsorption of type I collagen from a solution contain ing Pluronic((R)) F68 has shown that the latter prevents collagen adso rption on polystyrene and does not prevent it on surface-oxidized poly styrene. This explains the control of mammalian cell adhesion by subst rate surface hydrophobicity and composition of pre-conditioning soluti on. On that basis, selective adhesion of different types of mammalian cells (PC12 pheochromocytoma, MSC80 schwannoma, Hep G2 hepatoblastoma, rat hepatocytes) on patterned surfaces was achieved. Therefore tracks (width in the range of a few tens of Irm) of reduced hydrophobicity w ere produced on polystyrene by photolithography and oxygen plasma trea tment. After conditioning by a solution containing both Pluronic((R)) F68 and extracellular matrix protein (collagen, fibronectin), the latt er adsorbed selectively on these paths thus allowing selective adhesio n of the cells. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.