Abstract
In this study we investigate for the first time the biomedical potential of using a membrane made from anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) for culturing the Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) epithelial cell line. Nano-porous aluminium oxide membranes exhibit interesting properties such as high porosity, which allows the exchange of molecules and nutrients across the membrane and can be made with highly specific pore sizes that can be preselected by adjusting the controlling parameters of a temperature controlled two-step anodization process. The cellular response and interactions of the MDCK cell line with the synthesised nano-porous AAO membrane, a commercially available membrane and a glass control were assessed by investigating cell adhesion, morphology and proliferation.
Highlights
Porous aluminium oxide membranes derived from the electrochemical process of anodization of aluminium metal has been studied in detail in a variety of polyprotic acids or electrolytes, temperatures and anodization voltages for more than sixty years [1]
The high open porosity of the nano-porous membrane has the potential to be a beneficial substrate for culturing a variety of different cell types, such as Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK)
The present study focused on the nanometre scale surface topographical features of the in-house manufactured nano-porous anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) membrane and a commercially available alumina membrane (Whatmann® Anodisc) compared to a glass control
Summary
Porous aluminium oxide membranes derived from the electrochemical process of anodization of aluminium metal has been studied in detail in a variety of polyprotic acids or electrolytes, temperatures and anodization voltages for more than sixty years [1]. In 1998, Masuda et al [2] using a two-step anodization process was able to produce a highly ordered hexagonal pore structure from a set of pre-arranged macroscopic parameters These controllable macroscopic parameters (acid type and concentration, temperature and applied voltage) dictated the resulting nanometer scale structure that is formed in the AAO layer, producing an array of pore diameters, periodicity and density distribution. The pore diameter is dependent on the electrolyte and applied voltage, while the thickness depends on the duration of the anodization process, which allows for the synthesis of porous structures with large aspect ratios [3,4] These attractive features make AAO membranes an ideal template for a variety of nanotechnology applications that use them in the manufacture of nanometer scale materials and devices [5,6,7] or incorporate them into specific applications such as biological/chemical sensors [8,9], nanoelectronic devices [10,11], filter membranes [12] and medical scaffolds for tissue engineering [13,14,15]
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