A simple screening method for analysis of cell adhesive strength cultured on zein microspheres

Cell adhesion plays an important role in the microcarrier culture. Therefore, it is necessary to find a simple method to evaluate the cell adhesive strength. By the glycerol method, we prepared zein microcarriers. Both microcarrier surface morphology and cells on the microcarriers could be observed clearly when the microcarriers and the cells were stained by acridine orange (AO). Pre-treatment of soaking and sterilizing processes was necessary for cell culture, but it did not alter the morphology of zein microcarriers. Three kinds of cells were cultured on zein microcarriers for 24 h. Vero cells showed the strongest adhesion, while L929 cells were easily detached from the microcarriers after a simple beating operation. The proliferation curve of Vero cells cultured on the microcarriers displayed no difference with that on Cytodex 1.