Corneal epithelial cell adhesion and growth on EGF‐modified aminated PDMS Journal Articles uri icon

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abstract

  • AbstractGrowth factor tethering has significant potential to mediate cellular responses in biomaterials and tissue engineering. We have previously demonstrated that epidermal growth factor (EGF) can be tethered to polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates and that these surfaces promoted interactions with human corneal epithelial cellsin vitro. The goal of the current work was to better understand the specific effects of the tethered growth factor on the cells. The EGF was reacted with a homobifunctionalN‐hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) polyethylene glycol (PEG) derivative, and then bound to allyamine plasma‐modified PDMS. Human corneal epithelial cells were seeded on the surfaces and cultured in serum‐free medium for periods of up to 5 days. Cell growth was monitored and quantified by trypsinization and counting with a Coulter counter. Expression of matrix proteins and α6‐integrins was assessed by immunostaining and confocal microscopy. A centrifugation assay was used to determine cell adhesion under an applied detachment force. Binding of EGF was found to significantly increase cell numbers and coverage across the surfaces at 5 days of culturein vitro. Immunofluorescence experiments indicate increased expression of fibronectin, laminin, and α6‐integrins on the EGF‐modified surfaces, and expression is localized at the cell‐material interface as observed by confocal microscopy. In accordance with these results, the highest quantity of adherent cells is found on the EGF‐modified subtrates at 5 days of culture. The results provide initial evidence that binding of EGF may be used to improve the epithelialization of and the adhesion of the cells on a polymeric artificial cornea device. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2010

publication date

  • June 2010