Cancer cell proliferation controlled by surface chemistry in its microenvironment

Hepatoma cells （Hepg2s） as typical cancer cells cultured on hydroxyl （-OH） and methyl （- CH3） group surfaces were shown to exhibit different proliferation and morphological changes. Hepg2s cells on OH surfaces grew much more rapidly than those on -CH3 surfaces. Hepg2s cells on -OH surfaces had the larger contact area and the more flattened morphology, while those on CH3 surfaces exhibited the smaller contact area and the more rounded morphology. After 7 days of culture, the migration of Hepg2s cells into clusters on the CH3 surfaces behaved significantly slower than that on the OH surfaces. These chemically modified surfaces exhibited regulation of Hepg2s cells on proliferation, adhesion, and migration, providing a potential treatment of liver cancer.