Some physicochemical factors relevant to cellular interactionsThis work was supported by a grant from the National Cancer Institute of Canada and the National Research Council of Canada.

0021-9541

Life and Medical Sciences ; Cell & Developmental Biology

Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000

Biology

Medicine

Colloidal stability theory is discussed to accomodate the conditions imposed by biological systems. It is shown that to obtain potential curves with secondary minima, Hamaker's constant must be in the range of 1-5 × 10-14 ergs. The effect of increasing the dielectric constant is shown in theory to lower the surface potential and electrophoretic mobility but to increase the total energy of interaction. Calculations made from the theory predict the forces between model cells to be ca. 4.0 × 10-7 dynes.By cone-plate shearing of cell aggregates, the most successful of several techniques tried and discussed, at shear rates approaching 1 × 10-4 second-1 (1.5 × 10-4 dynes) semi-complete disaggregation was achieved although cell disruption was apparent; analysis of blood viscosity data indicates 5-10 × 10-7 dynes are required to separate red cells suspended in plasma. Colloidal stability theory, while not applicable to cell systems associated by special areas of attachment, seems to describe the physicochemical interaction of freely moving or reversibly adherent cells.

4 Ill.

Electronic Resource