Field-dependent fibroblast orientation on charged surfaces is independent of polarity and adsorbed serum proteins.

Abstract

Electrets were used to induce a dipolar charge on fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) and bacteriological grade polystyrene (PS) films. The serum protein surface concentration adsorbed on FEP and PS from cell-free media was dependent on both the magnitude and the polarity of the surface charge density. Chick embryo fibroblasts were cultured on charged and uncharged FEP surfaces, and cellular orientation and biosynthetic activity (protein synthesis) were determined. The orientation of fibroblasts was found to be significantly dependent on the magnitude of the surface charge but independent of its polarity. The biosynthetic activity of fibroblasts was observed to be dependent on both magnitude and polarity of the surface charge density.