Microencapsulation of human diploid fibroblasts in cationic polyacrylates.

Human diploid fibroblasts and Chinese hamster ovary cells were encapsulated in several copolymers of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate with methacrylic acid and/or methyl methacrylate. Copolymers containing 16 to 25% dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate and less than or equal to 2.2% methacrylic acid (based on monomer mol%) supported human diploid fibroblast growth when the polymer was cast as a film on glass or polystyrene. The cells survived encapsulation and grew, but growth was only observed in those capsules which appeared to be flawed; the flaws were detected as an early loss of fluorescence, due to leakage of the FITC-dextran added as a marker to the encapsulated cell suspension. Presumably the capsule wall had too low a permeability to allow for unrestricted growth. Chinese hamster ovary cells behaved similarly in dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate/methyl methacrylate capsules. Increasing the water content, by addition of methacrylic acid, did not improve matters, since these materials were not as good a substrate for cell growth as the others. Preparing materials that are sufficiently permeable, with low toxicity and high processability and which support the growth of anchorage-dependent cells is difficult, yet it remains an appropriate goal for further study.