Preparation of lactose-modified cellulose films by a nonaqueous enzymatic reaction and their biofunctional characteristics as a scaffold for cell culture.

Enzymatic glyco-modification of transparent cellulose films with lactose was achieved by nonaqueous biocatalysis, and rat hepatocyte attachment behavior to the lactose-modified cellulose films was investigated. Regenerated cellulose films were incubated with lactose using a surfactant-enveloped cellulase in lithium chloride/dimethylacetamide solvent at 37 degrees C for 24 h, and lactose molecules were successfully introduced to the cellulose films. The initial cell adhesion on the lactose-modified cellulose films was superior to the original cellulose film.