Endothelial cell detachment from synthetic substrate materials at 4 °C

The purpose of this investigation was to quantify the detachment of endothelial cells as a function of time at 4 °C for various substrates. Human umbilical cord endothelial cells (HUVECs) were harvested and plated on gelatin coated substrates of glass, polyester, and nylon. The seeded substrates were exposed to a 4 °C environment for a period of 48 hours and observed for confluency, cell detachment, area per cell, and cell number. From 0-38 hours of hypothermia, the overall area covered was decreasing and the area per cell was decreasing rapidly with time, but the average number of cells per field was nearly constant. From 40-48 hours of hypothermia, the average number of cells per field was decreasing rapidly, and the average area per cell as a function of time remained constant.