Galactosylated PVDF membrane promotes hepatocyte attachment and functional maintenance.
One of the major challenges in BLAD design is to develop functional substrates suitable for hepatocyte attachment and functional maintenance. In the present study, we designed a poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) surface coated with galactose-tethered Pluronic polymer. The galactose-derived Pluronic F68 (F68-Gal) was adsorbed on PVDF membrane through hydrophobic-hydrophobic interaction between PVDF and the polypropylene oxide segment in Pluronic. The galactose density on the modified PVDF surface increased with the concentration of the F68-Gal solution, reaching 15.4 nmol galactosyl groups per cm2 when a 1 mg/ml of F68-Gal solution was used. The adsorbed F68-Gal remained relatively stable in culture medium. Rat hepatocytes attachment efficiency on F68-Gal modified PVDF membrane was similar to that on collagen-coated surface. The attached hepatocytes on PVDF/F68-Gal membrane self-assembled into multi-cellular spheroids after 1 day of culture. These attached hepatocytes in spheroids exhibited higher cell functions such as albumin synthesis and P450 1A1 detoxification function compared to unmodified PVDF membrane and collagen-coated surface. These results suggest the potential of this galactose-immobilized PVDF membrane as a suitable substrate for hepatocyte culture.
Lu
Hong-Fang
HF
Tissue and Therapeutic Engineering Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore.
Lim
Wei Seng
WS
Wang
Jun
J
Tang
Zhi-Qun
ZQ
Zhang
Peng-Chi
PC
Leong
Kam W
KW
Chia
Ser Mien
SM
Yu
Hanry
H
Mao
Hai-Quan
HQ
D000418:Albumins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D048429:Cell Size / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism; D005690:Galactose / Q000737:chemistry*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019164:Liver, Artificial; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers
D000418:Albumins; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D005690:Galactose; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011145:Polyvinyls; C024865:polyvinylidene fluoride; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers