Cell separation between mesenchymal progenitor cells through porous polymeric membranes

Abstract This study investigates the separation of two types of marrow stromal cells, KUSA‐A1 osteoblasts and H‐1/A preadipocytes, by filtration through various porous polymeric membranes. It was found that KUSA‐A1 permeates better than H‐1/A cells through 12‐μm polyurethane foaming membranes. This appears to be due to the relatively smaller cell size of KUSA‐A1 cells. In addition, when feed solutions containing suspensions of either cell type or a mixture of the two were used, the permeation ratio was relatively low (< 6%) through polyurethane and surface‐modified polyurethane foaming membranes. It was also found that there was some degree of separation between KUSA‐A1 and H‐1/A cells (separation factor = 1.8) with nylon‐net filter membranes, but no separation was obtained when filters made of nonwoven fabrics or silk screens were used. This ability of the nylon‐net filter membranes to separate the two cell types was due to a sieving effect that results from an optimal pore size. Finally, permeation of a solution of human serum albumin through the membrane following filtration of the cells did not result in a separation of cells in the recovery solution. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2005