Fibronectin surface density affects endothelial cell function and growth on hydrophilic polymer

Adhesive biomolecules have been used to promote endothelial cell adherence to polymer surfaces. The authors varied the surface density of one such biomolecule (fibronectin) applied to a hydrophilic polymer in an in vitro model system and then measured the amount of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) produced by endothelial cells grown on these modified polymers. Endothelial cells grown on polymers with fibronectin applied at a surface density of 10 and 35% produced significantly more PGE2 (25.7 +/- 2.1 and 26.8 +/- 0.9 pg, respectively) than cells grown on polymer with no fibronectin (7.3 +/- 1.0 pg) and with complete saturation of the polymer surface with fibronectin (13.1 +/- 5.3 pg), with a p less than 0.005 for the comparison. The surface density of biomolecules on an artificial substrate is an important determinant of endothelial cell function.