Thin polymer layers as supports for hippocampal cell cultures

Layers from poly[(1-methylvinyl isocyanate)-alt-(maleic anhydride)] on aminosilanized glass substrates were assembled and reacted in a two-step procedure, first with different mixtures of a sequence from the protein laminin, the peptide (PA22-2), and the aminopoly(ethylene oxide) (APEG) and second with the alpha,omega-diamine JA, to yield functionalized hydrophilic polymer films which were examined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Cell-growth experiments of embryonic hippocampal cells were performed on these surfaces, showing only cell adhesion to polymer films which were modified with the sequence from the protein laminin and the peptide (PA22-2). The cell cultures were investigated using phase contrast microscopy and immunostaining techniques together with fluorescence microscopy after 1 and 3 days, showing neuritic outgrowth of the cells after a period of 3 days.