Mammalian cell adhesion on different 3D printed polymers with varying sterilization methods and acidic treatment

Cell growth on three-dimensional objects is of high interest for bioprocess engineering of adherent cells, tissue engineering and other biomedical applications. 3D printing by fusion deposition modeling (FDM) is a cheap possibility to generate tailor-made substrates for cell growth. Nevertheless, not all materials are chemically attractive for cells. Polylactic acid (PLA) and polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) have been reported to be suitable polymers for tissue engineering. Thus, they might also be applicable for cost-effective bioprocessing of adherent cell lines. Here we report on the influence of printing material, surface structure, and sterilization method on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell adhesion on a modified, high temperature resistant PLA, a PETG blend, and unmodified PETG, respectively. Our study revealed that CHO cells grew on all polymers tested without further surface modification. Samples could be efficiently chemically sterilized. Additional acid treatment had no significant effect on cell adhesion.