The interaction of nanostructured biomaterials with human cell cultures. The choice of cell cultures for use as biocompatability probes

Abstract

The study of the interaction of cells with nanoparticles or nanosurfaces is increasingly being performed using in vitro methods, largely with immortal cell lines. Immortal cell lines may behave differently from cells initially isolated from living tissue in these assays. Thus we have established a cell bank of primary human cell cultures stored at different stages from initial isolation through to senescence. We have examined the effects of culture age oil proliferation upon carbon nanotube arrays, and adhesion to polystyrene surfaces. These data have been compared with an equivalent telomerase transformed line, and a commercially available line. Initial results suggest very large errors can be introduced into nanotoxicity and adhesion assays by inappropriate use of cell strains and lines.