Attachment factors

Mammalian cells grow within a complex mixture of extracellular polymers and signaling molecules in vivo. This mixture is called the extracellular matrix (ECM) and interactions between it and the cell are critical for physiological processes including cellular growth and differentiation, formation of morphological features, and cell motility. Some cells cultured in vitro have the capacity to readily express and secrete the components of the ECM when grown on glass or polystyrene culturing chambers. Other cell types do not readily produce ECM components and can therefore be challenging to culture when they do not adhere to the culture surface, limiting their capacity for predictive modeling of physiological processes. One solution is to coat cultureware with components of the ECM, or with synthetic polymers that otherwise mimic the interactions between a cell and the ECM. These components are referred to as attachment factors, and they can be a critical component of culturing healthy and viable cells in vitro.

Essential attachment factors

Numerous natural and synthetic attachment factors have been developed for use in cell culture applications.  In some cases, attachment factors must be tested empirically for suitability for a given cell culturing condition. Below is a list of common attachment factors for consideration when optimizing cell culture conditions.

Choosing attachment factors

Many of these attachment factors are derived from different biological sources, and occur as multiple isoforms. Some attachment factors are purely synthetic, like Poly-L-Lysine. In certain applications, a peptide fragment of a factor (such as collagen) can be a useful alternative to the full-length protein. For convenience in cell culture applications, many attachment factors can be purchased in a liquid format that facilitates coating cultureware; for even greater efficiency, culture surfaces precoated with attachment factors save time and increase reproducibility.