Adhesion and spreading of different skeletal cell types on variable surface coatings

The adhesion and spreading of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), bovine primary chondrocytes and human osteoblastic osteosarcoma cell line (Saos-2) cultured on various coated surfaces were examined to determine whether different materials coated on the silicon wafer could affect the growth of the different cell types. The amorphous diamond (AD), titania (TiO 2 ), alumina (Al 2 O 3 ) or carbon nitride (C 3 N 4 ) coating on the silicon wafer was obtained by using ultra short pulsed laser deposition. The differences in surface characteristics were characterized with atomic force microscope and contact angles and zeta potential measurements. Human MSCs, bovine primary chondrocytes and Saos-2 osteoblasts were cultured for 48 h in direct contact with AD-, TiO 2 -, Al 2 O 3 - and C 3 N 4 -coated surfaces. Cell proliferation was assayed with MTT assay. The morphology, adhesion and spreading of the cultured cells were examined with scanning electron microscope. Human MSCs had the highest cell number after 48-h-culture on all of the different coated surfaces, followed by Saos-2 osteoblasts, and then bovine primary chondrocytes. The morphological appearance of MSCs, chondrocytes and Saos-2 osteoblasts remained as original. No statistically significant differences on cell proliferation were found among the different coated surfaces. Ultra short pulsed laser deposited high quality AD-, TiO 2 -, Al 2 O 3 - and C 3 N 4 -coated surfaces, and provided a good environment for the adhesion and spreading of the hMSCs, primary chondrocytes and Saos-2 osteoblasts.