AnIn SituInvestigation of the Adhesion of Glutaraldehyde-Fixed Human Erythrocytes to Polymer Surfaces

Abstract

Abstract An in situ methodology has been developed for the study of cell adhesion at the individual cell level. Our investigation involved the static sedimentation of glutaraldehyde-fixed human erythrocytes onto flat, horizontal, and transparent polymer surfaces. An inverted microscope was utilized for observations. Cells which did not adhere to the surface displayed small oscillations due to Brownian motion, and thus could be distinguished from adherent cells. Individual cells either adhered instantaneously upon contact with the surface or achieved adhesion gradually. In general, the percentage of adherent cells for a given system increased with time to a characteristic plateau value. The process of cell adhesion was modeled by thermodynamic consideration of the relevant interfacial tensions. Factors under consideration were the liquid medium's surface tension (γ LV ), the cell membrane surface tension (γ CV ), and the substrate surface tension (γ SV ). The model predicts that for γ LV > γ CV , adhesion ...