Molecular adsorption vs. cell adhesion at an electrified aqueous interface

Cell adhesion in the presence of surface-active polymers has been studied at the dynamic liquid interface of the dropping mercury electrode. Dextrans with average molecular weights of 70000 and 500000 were selected as surface-active polymers and marine nanoflagellate Dunaliella tertiolecta as model cell. The electrochemical response at the dropping mercury electrode measures directly the contribution of each component in the process of the initial monolayer formation. Competition between adsorption of molecules and adhesion of cells was discerned by analyzing two parameters: the frequency of cell adhesion and the time for monolayer film formation at the electrode surface. Adhering cells and adsorbed polymers form separate domains in the monolayer. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.