Cell Adhesion on Nanotextured Slippery Superhydrophobic Substrates

Abstract

In this work, the response of Saos2 cells to polymeric surfaces with different roughness/density of nanometric dots produced by a tailored plasma-etching process has been studied. Topographical features have been evaluated by atomic force microscopy, while wetting behavior, in terms of water-surface adhesion energy, has been evaluated by measurements of drop sliding angle. Saos2 cytocompatibility has been investigated by scanning electron microscopy, fluorescent microscopy, and optical microscopy. The similarity in outer chemical composition has allowed isolation of the impact of the topographical features on cellular behavior. The results indicate that Saos2 cells respond differently to surfaces with different nanoscale topographical features, clearly showing a certain inhibition in cell adhesion when the nanoscale is particularly small. This effect appears to be attenuated in surfaces with relatively bigger nanofeatures, though these express a more pronounced slippery/dry wetting character.

Hierarchical micro and nano structured, hydrophilic, superhydrophobic and superoleophobic surfaces incorporated in microfluidics, microarrays and lab on chip microsystems

“…static non-flow conditions) on superhydrophobic surfaces. Di Mundo et al have shown that SaOs2 cells are inhibited on nanotextured hydrophobic surfaces, while they seem to adhere on slippery superhydrophobic surfaces with larger nanofeatures [186]. Similarly Cha et al [187] have shown that stems cells adhere on lotus leave micro-nano textured polystyrene.…”

Superhydrophobic materials for biomedical applications

“…Di Mundo et al [139] studied how an osteoblast cell line (Saos2) responded to different roughness and densities of nanometer-sized dots. A decrease in cell adhesion is observed with increased roughness level (decrease in nanodot size).…”

Modeling of Charging on Unconventional Surface Morphologies of PMMA Substrates During Ar Plasma Etching

“…For example, it affects wetting and optical properties of surfaces, [4,5] the adsorption of proteins on surfaces, [6,7] and the cell adhesion and growth. [8,9] The importance of roughness motivated several studies on plasma induced surface roughness of polymeric substrates; [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] the focus was on recipes eliminating or producing roughness and on the mechanisms of roughness creation and evolution.…”