Nano-Structured Cell-Adhesive and Cell-Repulsive Plasma-Deposited Coatings:Chemical and Topographical Effects on Keratinocyte Adhesion

Cell-adhesive and cell-repulsive coatings have been plasma-deposited on poly(ethylene terephthalate) surfaces previously structured with nano-metric conical features by means of colloidal lithography. Surface analysis revealed that both coatings are conformal on nanostructured substrates, with their wettability depending on the substrate morphology. The effect of surface chemistry and surface topography on cell adhesion has been investigated and clarified. The adhesion of a human keratinocyte cell-line was found to be strongly dependent on the surface topography for plasma-deposited acrylic acid (cell-adhesive), and on the surface chemistry for poly(ethylene oxide)-like (cell-repulsive) coatings.