Cellular proliferation on desamidated collagen matrices

The attachment and growth of human skin keratinocytes (KR) and fibroblasts (FB) on collagen modified by desamidation were investigated. Unlike type I native collagen, desamidated collagen has a sharp iso-ionic pH (5.1) thereb y making available either negative or positively charged biomolecules as an d when required for a specific bio-application. The cytocompatibility of de samidated collagen prepared from bovine achilles tendons (DCA) and hide tri mmings (DCH) was compared with the bovine type I collagen CNC). KR or FB we re seeded onto the wells of tissue culture plates coated with the collagen preparations (DCA, DCH and NC). Cellular proliferation on each of these sub strates was monitored by reduction of MITT ([3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2 ,5-dimethyltelrazolium bromide] and by determining the DNA synthesis with [ H-3]thymidine. In both cases cells proliferated well indicating that DCA. a nd DCH serve as good substrata and are biocompatible. Cell growth occurred without any morphological changes in cell appearance as observed from the p hase-contrast microscopy of the cultures: indicating no toxicity of the mat erial during the period studied. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.