Adhesion and proliferation of corneal epithelial cells on self-assembled monolayers

The effect of surface chemistry on the proliferation and adhesion of SV-40 human corneal epithelial cells was investigated. The surface chemistry of substrates was controlled by the deposition of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) terminated with the following functional groups: -CF3, -CH3, -CO(2)H, and -NH(2). SAMs of alkanethiols on gold and of alkylsiloxanes on SiOx were included in the study. Comparisons are made between different types and functionalities of SAMs and between SAM-covered substrates and tissue culture polystyrene. Adhesion assays were performed after incubation of the cells for 1 h in 10% fetal bovine serum and in serum-free conditions. The cellular response was found to be a function of surface chemistry and the presence of exogenous proteins. The number of cells that adhered to most of the SAMs in 10% serum and in serum-free conditions was not significantly different from the number of cells that adhered to TCPS. Proliferation assays were carried out in 10% serum and in 0.5% serum. Cell behavior was influenced by surface chemistry but did not deviate significantly from the behavior on TCPS for most of the SAMs. Serum level did not play a major role in cell proliferation. Our data establish the expected behaviors for a corneal epithelial cell line under defined conditions on specific surfaces.