Microencapsulation of human diploid fibroblasts in cationic polyacrylates.
Human diploid fibroblasts and Chinese hamster ovary cells were encapsulated in several copolymers of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate with methacrylic acid and/or methyl methacrylate. Copolymers containing 16 to 25% dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate and less than or equal to 2.2% methacrylic acid (based on monomer mol%) supported human diploid fibroblast growth when the polymer was cast as a film on glass or polystyrene. The cells survived encapsulation and grew, but growth was only observed in those capsules which appeared to be flawed; the flaws were detected as an early loss of fluorescence, due to leakage of the FITC-dextran added as a marker to the encapsulated cell suspension. Presumably the capsule wall had too low a permeability to allow for unrestricted growth. Chinese hamster ovary cells behaved similarly in dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate/methyl methacrylate capsules. Increasing the water content, by addition of methacrylic acid, did not improve matters, since these materials were not as good a substrate for cell growth as the others. Preparing materials that are sufficiently permeable, with low toxicity and high processability and which support the growth of anchorage-dependent cells is difficult, yet it remains an appropriate goal for further study.
Mallabone
C L
CL
Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Crooks
C A
CA
Sefton
M V
MV
D000179:Acrylates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002412:Cations / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003102:Colloids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D006224:Cricetinae; D004171:Diploidy; D004339:Drug Compounding; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D007223:Infant; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D020366:Methylmethacrylate; D008768:Methylmethacrylates / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D011073:Polyamines; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D011108:Polymers / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity
D000179:Acrylates; D002412:Cations; D003102:Colloids; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008689:Methacrylates; D020366:Methylmethacrylate; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D011073:Polyamines; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D011108:Polymers; C008384:methacrylic acid; C049840:2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate