Two different hydrophilic acrylate beads were prepared via aqueous suspension polymerization. Beads produced of a hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA) and ethyleneglycol methacrylate (EDMA) copolymer were obtained using a polyvinyl alcohol suspending medium. Copolymers of 2hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), methyl methacrylate (MMA) and ethyleneglycol methacrylate (EDMA) beads were obtained using magnesium hydroxide as the suspending agent. Following characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nitrogen sorption analysis (NSA) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), the beads were cultured with monkey fibroblasts (COS7) to evaluate their ability to support cell growth, attachment and adhesion. Cell growth behavior onto small HPMA/EDMA copolymer beads and large HEMA/MMA/EDMA copolymer beads is evaluated regarding their hidrophilicity/hidrophobicity and surface roughness.
cell attachment; adhesion; hydrophilic/hydrophobic beads; acrylate polymer
