Cell growth on immobilized cell-growth factor. II. Adhesion and growth of fibroblast cells on poly(methyl methacrylate) membrane immobilized with proteins of various kinds.

The surface of poly(methyl methacrylate) membrane was partially hydrolysed and the carboxyl groups produced were coupled with various protein molecules with water-soluble carbodiimide. The immobilized proteins were a cell-growth factor insulin, cell adhesion factors fibrinogen and fibronectin, and serum proteins albumin and gamma-globulin. The insulin-immobilized poly(methyl methacrylate) membrane strongly accelerated the growth and slightly accelerated the adhesion of fibroblast cells. The immobilized fibronectin and fibrinogen enhanced the cell adhesion, and the former also accelerated the cell growth. The immobilized albumin and gamma-globulin influenced the adhesion and growth of cells very little. It was found that various proteins specifically influence the adhesion and growth of cells in an immobilized state.