Cellular adhesion and protein adsorption to P(MEO2MA-co-OEGMA) polymer substrates

Thermoresponsive polymers (TRP) are attractive substrates for cell culture, as adherent cells are mechanically released from the polymer surface when the temperature is lowered below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST). In this study, cell adhesion and serum protein adsorption to P(MEO
₂
MA-co-OEGMA) (PMO) polymer substrates was investigated. L-929 cell adhesion to PMO surfaces was markedly lower that the adhesion to tissue culture plastic surfaces (TCP) after 6 hours. The density of adsorbed serum proteins to PMO surfaces was significantly higher (2.3 fold) than TCP surfaces after incubation with cell culture media with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Selective adsorption of extracellular matrix proteins may further enhance adhesion to PMO surfaces.