Fabrication, characterisation and performance of hydrophilic and super-hydrophilic silica as cell culture surfaces

Abstract

We demonstrate a straightforward procedure for the controlled formation of silica films on tissue culture polystyrene (PS) surfaces. The films were formed by sequentially treating PS with polyaniline, glutaric dialdehyde and protein prior to silica formation. The films could be tailored to exhibit super-hydrophilicity (contact angle < 5°) which was retained for more than two months under ambient conditions. Both hydrophilic and super-hydrophilic silica coated surfaces were suitable for the culture of an adherent human melanoma cell line. Proliferation, toxicity and adhesion assays were used to compare cell behaviour. Cells on the silica surfaces showed enhanced adhesion and comparable rates of cell proliferation as compared to cells grown on conventional tissue culture plastic. The results obtained can be understood by considering the surface properties of the different materials and the ability of the silica coated surfaces to adsorb significantly higher levels of serum proteins from the growth medium. One of the outcomes of this study is a re-evaluation of the hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity characteristics required for good cell growth and the possibility of designing new tissue culture materials capable of greater control over cell populations.