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 mono-structured 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.