Poly-L-lysine modified ITO surface for enhanced cell growth

Abstract

Material surface properties are considered as critical factor for the study of in Vitro cell growth and activities. It provides advantages not only for study of cellular activity but also for biomedical technology such as tissue engineering. Neuron is a typical cell type widely used to examine cell communications, alignments and differentiations. In the present study, a simple pattern of indium tin oxide (ITO) for neuron culture is introduced. Circular inter-digitated design of ITO platform was fabricated by using simple photolithography techniques. In order to enhance cell attachment, the fabricated electrode surface was modified by poly-L-lysine, a positive charge molecule that allows binding site for cell adhesion. SH-SY5Y cell, a human neuroblastoma cell line, was cultured on the modified surface. Results show that cells preferably adhere on the ITO surface while some of them align itself according to the ITO pattern. In addition, the possibility of fabricated nanostructure platform can indicate the potential control of cell precisely guidance and pattern on surface.