Phospholipid polymer-based antibody immobilization for cell rolling surfaces in stem cell purification system

Abstract

We previously developed an antibody-conjugated cell rolling column that successfully separates stem cell subpopulations depending on the cell surface marker density, but a large amount of the injected cells were retained in the column because of non-specific interactions. In this study, an amphiphilic copolymer, poly[2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC)-co-n-butyl methacrylate (nBMA)-co-N-vinyl formamide (NVf)], with phospholipid polar side groups was designed as a novel antibody-immobilizing modifier. The formamide groups in NVf units were converted to active maleimide groups. A plastic flow microfluidic chamber was coated with the copolymers, and a reduced anti-CD90 antibody was immobilized. The adipose tissue-derived stem cells isolated from the rat were injected into the flow chamber, and their rolling behavior was observed under a microscope with a high-speed camera. Non-specific cell adhesion was reduced strongly by means of this immobilization method because of the MPC unit, resulting in a high percentage of rolling cells. These results demonstrate that a surface coated with phospholipid polar groups can be used in an effective stem cell separation system based on the cell rolling process.