title: Stabilizing hepatocellular phenotype using optimized synthetic surfaces.
abstract: Currently, one of the major limitations in cell biology is maintaining differentiated cell phenotype. Biological matrices are commonly used for culturing and maintaining primary and pluripotent stem cell derived hepatocytes. While biological matrices are useful, they permit short term culture of hepatocytes, limiting their widespread application. We have attempted to overcome the limitations using a synthetic polymer coating. Polymers represent one of the broadest classes of biomaterials and possess a wide range of mechanical, physical and chemical properties, which can be fine-tuned for purpose. Importantly, such materials can be scaled to quality assured standards and display batch-to-batch consistency. This is essential if cells are to be expanded for high through-put screening in the pharmaceutical testing industry or for cellular based therapy. Polyurethanes (PUs) are one group of materials that have shown promise in cell culture. Our recent progress in optimizing a polyurethane coated surface, for long-term culture of human hepatocytes displaying stable phenotype, is presented and discussed.
authors.affiliation: MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh.
authors.forename: Baltasar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lucendo-Villarin
authors.affiliation: MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.affiliation: MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh.
authors.forename: Dagmara
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Szkolnicka
authors.affiliation: MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Travers
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh.
authors.forename: Ferdous
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh.
authors.forename: Jeffrey G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.affiliation: MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Iredale
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.affiliation: MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh; davehay@talktalk.net.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Hay
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002460:Cell Line; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D011140:Polyurethanes; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D011140:Polyurethanes