Biocompatibility of poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazoline) brush surfaces for adherent lung cell lines

Development of synthetic surfaces that are highly reproducible and biocompatible for in vitro cell culture offers potential for development of improved models for studies of cellular physiology and pathology. They may also be useful in tissue engineering by removal of the need for biologically-derived components such as extracellular matrix proteins. We synthesised four types of 2-alkyl-2-oxazoline polymers ranging from the hydrophilic poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) to the hydrophobic poly(2-n-butyl-2-oxazoline). The polymers were terminated using amine-functionalised glass coverslips, enabling the synthetic procedure to be reproducible and scaleable. The polymer-coated glass slides were tested for biocompatibility using human epithelial (16HBE14o-) and fibroblastic (MRC5) cell lines. Differences in adhesion and motility of the two cell types was observed, with the poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) polymer equally supporting the growth of both cell types, whereas poly(2-n-butyl-2-oxazoline) showed selectivity for fibroblast growth. In summary, 2-alkyl-2-oxazoline polymers may be a useful tool for building in vitro model cell culture models with preferential adhesion of specific cell types.