Fibroblast growth on polymer surfaces and biosynthesis of collagen

The growth and morphology of rat fibroblasts cultured on various polymer substrates, as well as their collagen biosynthesis, were studied. A clear difference in cell growth and cell morphology was observed among the substrates. The dependence of cell growth on the water contact angle of substrate was similar to that of the adhesion. Fibroblasts could proliferate at the highest rate and showed the highest-ordered morphology when cultured on the substrate with a contact angle around 70 degrees, which was also the most favorable for cell adhesion. The amount of collagen synthesized by total cells and of adsorption of the synthesized collagen to substrates were in good correlation with the cell growth dependence on the contact angle of substrate, whereas the collagen synthesis per cell was more active on the surfaces poor for cell growth than on the good ones. Cells on surfaces promoting active collagen synthesis had a round shape and clustered upon each other. The collagen-immobilized surface had nearly the highest cell adhesion, high cell proliferation, and high collagen adsorption among the substrates studied. In addition, the highest-ordered morphology and no lag time for proliferation were observed for the collagen-immobilized surface. These results indicate that the collagen-immobilized substrate provides the most favorable surface for cell growth at the initial stage.