EFFECT OF PREADSORBED PROTEINS ON CELL-ADHESION TO POLYMER SURFACES

Adsorption of three different proteins and adhesion of cells onto various substrates in the presence of serum proteins were studied. Both the maximal protein adsorption and the maximal cell adhesion were observed on surfaces with water contact angle around 70°. Preadsorption of serum albumin prevented cell adhesion to all the substrates, whereas preadsorbed fibronectin (FN) enhanced cell adhesion to all the substrates, independent of their water wettability, except for poly(vinyl alcohol) and acrylamide-grafted films. Competitive adsorption of FN from mixed proteins, ranging from 0.03 to 0.07 µg/cm2, markedly influenced cell adhesion in the presence of serum. These results suggest that the effect of the water wettability of surfaces on cell adhesion in the presence of serum should occur through protein layers adsorbed directly to the substrate surfaces. © 1993 Academic Press, Inc.