Culture of human umbilical vein endothelial cells on immobilized vascular endothelial growth factor

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was immobilized on substrata in photoreactive gelatin to control the adhesion and growth of vascular endothelial cells. The gelatin and VEGF were mixed in water and cast on a polystyrene dish or a silane-coated glass plate. The surface was then photoirradiated in the presence or absence of a photomask and washed. Toughness of the immobilized material was confirmed by ethanol treatment. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) grew on the immobilized VEGF but not on a nontreated surface. Growth of HUVEC increased significantly with an increase in the amount of immobilized VEGF, and the effects were inhibited by treatment with anti-VEGF antibody. Thus, immobilized VEGF specifically interacted with HUVECs to permit growth in culture. Micropatterning of HUVEC cultures was also achieved using micropattern-immobilized VEGF. This patterning technique may be useful for the formation of blood vessel networks in vitro.