Fibronectin matrix formation and the biocompatibility of materials

The formation of an extracellular matrix (ECM) was investigated by the secretion of cellular FN during 72 h incubation of fibroblasts on defined hydrophilic glass and hydrophobic octadecyl glass (ODS). It was found, that the ability of fibroblasts to form their own ECM was inhibited on the hydrophobic ODS in com parison to glass, where significant amounts of FN were deposited in fibrils and clusters. This result was corroborated by the impaired morphology of cells on ODS, visualized by staining of actin micro-filaments and the FN receptor. Moreover, it was found that cell growth was significantly inhibited on the hydrophobic surface. In contrast to these findings, cell morphology and proliferation was not impaired on glass. Precoating of both substrata with FN could restore the cell morphology and enhanced the proliferation on the hydrophobic ODS. ELISA for FN binding using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies revealed that under these circumstances total FN adsorption, as well as the presence of cell- and heparin-binding domains was much higher on ODS in comparison to glass.