Effect of avidin-like proteins and biotin modification on mesenchymal stem cell adhesion

The avidin-biotin system is a highly specific reaction that has been used in a wide range of biomedical applications, including surface modification and cell patterning. We systematically examined a number of avidin derivatives as the basis for a simple and cost effective tissue culture polystyrene substrate surface modification for human stem cell culture. Non-specific adhesion between human mesenchymal stem cells and various avidin derivatives, media conditions, and subsequent biotinylation reactions was quantified. We observed significant non-specific cell adhesion to avidin and strepthavidin, indicating that previous observations using this system may be artifactual. Seeding of cells in serum free media, blocking with bovine serum albumin, and the use of the avidin derivative neutravidin were all necessary for elimination of background adhesion. Neutravidin conjugated with biotinylated bsp-RGD(15) peptide provided the most robust cell adhesion, as well as the greatest increase in cell adhesion over background levels.