ZnO nanowire arrays as substrates for cell proliferation and differentiation

In the latest years, the use of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures has been proposed in different biomedical applications, however, to date, only a few contrasting results concerning their biocompatibility can be found in the literature. In particular, the application of the extraordinary piezoelectric properties of ZnO nanostructures has poorly been explored for the culture of electrically excitable cells, and, for this reason, systematic investigations of their interactions with these living systems appear to be necessary. In this paper, we report about adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of two mammalian cell lines (PC12, as model of neuronal cells, and H9c2, as model of muscle cells) over ZnO nanowire arrays. We demonstrate suitability of these arrays in sustaining cellular functions, and their potential in applications that range from tissue engineering to minimally invasive sensing and/or stimulation. ► ZnO nanowire arrays were exploited as mammalian cell substrates. ► Two cell lines were investigated: PC12 (neuronal-like) and H9c2 (muscle-like). ► An intimate connection between cells and nanostructured substrates was highlighted. ► Adhesion, proliferation and differentiation was well sustained by ZnO nanowire arrays.