MODIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYSTYRENE SURFACES USED FOR CELL-CULTURE

Surfaces of polystyrene Petri dishes used for cell culture were chemically modified by 5% fuming sulfuric acid. The sulfonation was performed at room temperature for various times. Formation of polar groups takes place essentially on the surface of the polymer. Wettability and ionic character of the modified surfaces were determined by contact angle measurements and surface conductivity measurements, respectively. It was found that the wettability of these surfaces is directly related to the concentration of sulfonate groups. The cation-exchange capacity of treated surfaces with inorganic cations were determined by the radiotracer technique.