Anchorage-dependent and suspended baby-hamster kidney cells on three-dimensional non-woven polyester fabric discs: Comparison of growth characteristics

Two types of baby-hamster kidney (BHK) cell line, anchorage-dependent BHK-An₃₂ and suspended BHK-An₄₈ cells, were cultivated on non-woven polyester fabrics (NWPF) that were prepared from non-woven polyethylene teraphthalate sheets with different void fractions in three-dimensional configuration. The attachment and growth characteristics of both cell lines were investigated in stationary and submerged cultures, containing Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with fetal-calf serum. All cultures displayed rapid attachment (< 120 min) of inoculated cells to the discs. The growth of BHK cells on NWPF discs in stationary cultures was similar to that observed in tissue-culture dishes; however, the denser discs showed better results in terms of final cell density, especially in the case of BHK-An₄₈ cells. Spinner-flask cultures indicated that higher cell yields were obtained than in stationary conditions. Microscopic observation showed that anchorage-dependent BHK-An₃₂ cells spread through the interfibre spaces of NPWF discs to form three-dimensional structures whereas BHK-An₄₈ cells proliferated on fibres.