Attachment and growth of anchorage-dependent cells on a novel, charged-surface microcarrier under serum-free conditions

The present study describes a novel microcarrier substrate consisting of a swellable, copolymer of styrene and divinylbenzene, derivatized with trimet hylamine. The co-polymer trimethylamine microcarriers support the growth of a number of different cell lines - Madin Darby Bovine Kidney, Madin-Darby Canine Kidney, Vero and Cos-7 - under serum-free conditions, and human dipl oid fibroblasts in serum-containing medium. Cells attach to the co-polymer trimethylamine microcarriers as rapidly as they attach to other charged-sur face microcarriers (faster than they attach to collagen-coated polystyrene microcarriers) and spread rapidly after attachment. All of the cells examin ed grow to high density on the co-polymer trimethylamine microcarriers. Fur thermore, cells are readily released from the surface after exposure to a s olution of trypsin/EDTA. In this respect, the co-polymer trimethylamine mic rocarriers are different from other charged-surface microcarriers. Madin-Da rby Bovine Kidney cells grown on this substrate support production of vacci ne strain infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus as readily as on other ch arged-surface or collagen-coated microcarriers. Thus, the co-polymer trimet hylamine microcarriers combine the positive characteristics of the currentl y available charged-surface and adhesion-peptide coated microcarriers in a single product. The viral vaccine production industry is undergoing conside rable change as manufacturers move toward complete, animal product-free cul ture systems. This novel substrate should find application in the industry, especially in processes which depend on viable cell recovery.