Interaction of different types of cells on polymer surfaces with wettability gradient

Gradient surfaces whose properties are changed gradually along the sample length are of particular interest for basic studies of the interaction between biological species and surfaces since the effect of a selected property can be examined in a single experiment on one surface. We prepared a wettability gradient on low density polyethylene (PE) sheets by treating them in air with the corona from a knife-type electrode whose power increases gradually along the sample length. The PE surfaces oxidized gradually with the increasing corona power, and the wettability gradient was created on the surfaces as evidenced by the measurement of water contact angles, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the attenuated total reflectance mode, and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis. The wettability gradient surfaces prepared were used to investigate the interaction of different types of cells (Chinese hamster ovary, fibroblast, and endothelial cells) as well as serum proteins in terms of the surface hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of polymeric materials. The cells adhered and grown on the gradient surface along the sample length were counted and observed by scanning electron microscopy. It was observed that the cells were adhered, spread, and grown more onto the positions with moderate hydrophilicity of the wettability gradient surface than onto the more hydrophobic or hydrophilic positions. The maximum adhesion and growth of the cells appeared at around water contact angles of 55 degrees, regardless of the cell types used. This result seems closely related to the serum protein adsorption on the surfaces; the serum proteins were also adsorbed more onto the positions with moderate hydrophilicity of the wettability gradient surface. (C) 1998 Academic Press.