title: Attachment and growth of anchorage-dependent cells on a novel, charged-surface microcarrier under serum-free conditions.
abstract: The present study describes a novel microcarrier substrate consisting of a swellable, copolymer of styrene and divinylbenzene, derivatized with trimethylamine. The co-polymer trimethylamine microcarriers support the growth of a number of different cell lines - Madin Darby Bovine Kidney, Madin-Darby Canine Kidney, Vero and Cos-7 - under serum-free conditions, and human diploid fibroblasts in serum-containing medium. Cells attach to the co- polymer trimethylamine microcarriers as rapidly as they attach to other charged-surface microcarriers (faster than they attach to collagen-coated polystyrene microcarriers) and spread rapidly after attachment. All of the cells examined grow to high density on the co- polymer trimethylamine microcarriers. Furthermore, cells are readily released from the surface after exposure to a solution of trypsin/EDTA. In this respect, the co-polymer trimethylamine microcarriers are different from other charged-surface microcarriers. Madin-Darby Bovine Kidney cells grown on this substrate support production of vaccine strain infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus as readily as on other charged-surface or collagen-coated microcarriers. Thus, the co-polymer trimethylamine microcarriers combine the positive characteristics of the currently available charged-surface and adhesion-peptide coated microcarriers in a single product. The viral vaccine production industry is undergoing considerable change as manufacturers move toward complete, animal product-free culture systems. This novel substrate should find application in the industry, especially in processes which depend on viable cell recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The University of Michigan, 1301 Catherine Road, P.O. Box 0602, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, U.S.A., varani@umich.edu.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Varani
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Piel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Josephs
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Beals
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Hillegas