Effects of Charged Substrates on Attachment of Primary Bone Marrow Stromal Cells

Abstract

AbstractThe effects of charged substrates on the attachment of rat primary bone marrow stromal cells have been investigated using a novel cell culture chamber. Cells were cultured on the surfaces of a conductive and optically transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) coating. When a voltage was applied to the ITO electrodes, positive and negative charges were induced on the ITO electrodes. After 24 hours exposure to 0.8V, more cells attached to the anode than either the cathode or control both in presence or absence of serum in the culture medium. Protein desorption profiles also indicated that the enhanced attachment of cells to the anode was not controlled by the adsorption of serum proteins. The surface texture of ITO was analyzed using atomic force microscopy, the thickness by transmission electron microscopy, and crystallinity using glancing angle x-ray diffraction.