title: 3D hepatocyte monolayer on hybrid RGD/galactose substratum.
abstract: Hepatocyte-based applications such as xenobiotics metabolism and toxicity studies usually require hepatocytes anchoring onto flat substrata that support their functional maintenance. Conventional cell culture plates coated with natural matrices or synthetic ligands allow hepatocytes to adhere tightly as two-dimensional (2D) monolayer but these tightly anchored hepatocytes rapidly lose their differentiated functions. On galactosylated substrata, hepatocytes adhere loosely; and readily form three-dimensional (3D) spheroids that can maintain high levels of cellular functions. These spheroids detach easily from the substrata and exhibit poor mass transport properties unsuitable for many applications. Here, we have developed a hybrid RGD/galactose substratum based on polyethylene terephthalate film conjugated with both RGD peptide and galactose ligand to enhance cell adhesion and functions synergistically. Primary hepatocytes adhere effectively onto the transparent hybrid substratum in 96-well plates as monolayer while exhibiting high levels of liver-specific functions, morphology and cell-cell interactions typically seen in the 3D hepatocyte spheroids. The hepatocytes cultured onto the hybrid substratum also exhibit high levels of sensitivity to a model drug acetaminophen similar to the 3D hepatocyte spheroids. The monolayer of hepatocytes exhibiting the 3D cell behaviors on this flat hybrid substratum can be useful for various applications requiring both effective mass transfer and cellular support.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos #04-01, Singapore 138669, Singapore.
authors.forename: Yanan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Ser-Mien
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Chia
authors.forename: Rongbin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Shi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Huihuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Hanry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000494:pharmacology; D000179:Acrylates / Q000737:chemistry; D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D048430:Cell Shape; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D005690:Galactose / Q000378:metabolism*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013499:Surface Properties; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D000199:Actins; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D015820:Cadherins; D009842:Oligopeptides; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; D000082:Acetaminophen; C047981:arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C036658:acrylic acid; D005690:Galactose