Growth of human vascular endothelial cells on various types of microcarriers

Various types of microcarriers were tested as growth substrate for the cultivation of either endothelial cells from human umbilical cord veins or of EA. hy926, an immortalized cell line of endothelial origin. Cell growth was tested on microcarriers in tissue culture flasks and spinner flasks. Solid (Cytodex type I, II, III, Gelibeads, Mica) and macroporous (Polyhipe, CultiSpher GL, PolyporE type I) microcarriers were tested. For the solid carriers the best results were obtained with Mica and for the macroporous carriers with CultiSpher GL.Abbreviations DAPI 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole-di-hydrochloride - DEAE diethylaminoethyl - EC vascular endothelial cells - FGF fibroblast growth factor - HUVEC vascular endothelial cells from human umbilical cord veins - IF 11 mixture of Iscove's MDM and F12 basal media - NCS newborn calf serum - PBS phosphate buffered saline - TE 0.05% (w/v) trypsin, 0.02% (w/v) EDTA in PBS