The Effect of Synthetic Polycation Poly-2-Dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate on Biological Activity of Mammalian Resident and Nonresident Cells

Cationic polymers are the positively charged macromolecules that have in their structure N-containing functional groups such as primary, secondary and tertiary amine groups; quaternary ammonium groups and others. The effect of synthetic polycation poly-2-dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate (PDMAEM) on biological activity of animal fibroblasts (CHL V-79 RJK) and human red blood cells (RBCs) was studied. The influence of PDMAEM on cell adhesion using fibroblast culture was analyzed. Cultural plastic treated or untreated by polycation was used as substrate. The polycation adsorption on polystyrene surface did not change the adhesive capacity of fibroblasts. Pretreatment of fibroblasts with PDMAEM did not influence at low concentrations (0.1 and 1 μg/mL) the adhesive properties of cells plated on the untreated plastic surface. At high concentrations (10 and 100 μg/mL) PDMAEM inhibited the attachment of fibroblasts to this substrate. Relationship between the inhibition of cell adhesion under PDMAEM action and the toxic effect on fibroblast viability has been found. The PDMAEM treatment of human RBCs at high doses led to the damage of cells and release of hemoglobin to incubation medium. At low doses PDMAEM practically did not influence the hemolysis of RBCs. It was shown that PDMAEM induced the change of the shape and aggregation of RBCs. The toxic effect of PDMAEM on human RBCs coincided as a whole with such effect for animal fibroblasts. Possible cell targets upon the PDMAEM effect are discussed.