The attachment, spreading and growth of baby hamster kidney cells on collagen, chemically modified collagen and collagen-composite substrata

Abstract

Various replicates of collagen substrata were prepared to study the attachment, growth and spreading of baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells. Cell attachment was measured in both the presence and absence of serum. Spreading and growth did not occur in the absence of serum. Attachment to fibrous collagen was less than that found with glass, rat-tail tendon collagen or films prepared from pepsin-solubilized collagen (PS-collagen). Incorporation of hyaluronate, heparin and protamine sulphate into the fibrous collagen and the acetylation of fibrous collagen had little effect. However, incorporation of chondroitin sulphate or chemical modification of fibrous collagen by either methylation or succinylation increased BHK cell attachment. In the absence of serum, the attachment to collagen, acetylated collagen and collagen composites was reduced. The reduction in attachment was marked with fibrous collagen and gelatin films, but less so with collagen composites, acetylated collagen, rat-tail tendon and PS-collagen films. Interestingly, attachment to succinylated collagen and methylated collagen was largely unaffected by the absence of serum, and possible reasons for this are discussed. Cell shape measurements showed decreased spreading of BHK cells on chemically modified collagen films, especially on gelatin films and dried PS-collagen gels. Cell shape and spreading on PS-collagen, rat-tail tendon collagen and collagen-composite films was found to be similar to that on fibrous collagen. BHK cell growth on fibrous collagen, chemically modified collagens, collagen composites, rat-tail tendon and PS-collagen films was similar to that found on plastic tissue culture substrate. Denaturation of fibrous collagen resulted in decreased growth, and BHK cell growth was markedly reduced on PS-collagen gels and dried gels.