Behavior of Cells Cultured on Cuprophan

Controlling cell shape induced by cell–substrata interaction appears of prime importance to influence subsequent biological processes such as cell migration, proliferation, or apoptosis [1–3]. Cell shape and cytoskeletal organization may change through the transmission of mechanical stresses mediated by cell-surface integrins. Integrins are receptors composed of α and β subunits linked in a transmembrane heterodimer. Some of these mediate the adhesion of cells to Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-containing proteins such as vitronectin (VN) or fibronectin (FN), both of which play a major role in the attachment of cells plated out in the presence of fetal bovine serum (FBS). Adsorbed proteins maintaining their sites in conformational active structures will be recognized then by specific integrins. In this respect, cell culture treated polystyrene dishes (PS) which adsorb adhesive serum proteins without altering them favor cell spread and proliferation. Since the surface of the material may be considered as a matrix of chemical groups influencing cell-material contact, every monomer unit of the surface is a potential site for interaction with proteins and cells. Therefore, depending on their surface properties, biomaterials will adsorb more or less adhesive proteins and initiate different cell behaviors.