Monitoring Cell Adhesion on Polycaprolactone-Chitosan Films with Varying Blend Ratios by Quartz Crystal Microbalance...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Surface Science
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Improving biomaterial performance requires understanding cell adhesion on polymer surfaces.
• Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) offers label-free, real-time monitoring of cell-polymer interfaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate human fetal osteoblastic (hFOB) cell adhesion on polycaprolactone (PCL) and chitosan (CH) homopolymer and blend films using QCM-D.
• To correlate cell adhesion behavior with polymer film properties and QCM-D signal patterns.

Main Methods:

• Spin-coating was used to prepare PCL, CH, and blend (75:25, 25:75) polymer films.
• Film properties (morphology, ζ-potential, wettability, swelling, fibrinogen adsorption) were characterized.
• QCM-D and complementary cell culture assays monitored hFOB cell adhesion over 18 hours.

Main Results:

• Fibrinogen adsorption and cell deposition decreased with increasing chitosan content, correlating with increased surface hydrophilicity.
• QCM-D signals indicated full cell spreading and high dissipation on pure PCL films.
• Blend films showed reduced cell spreading and lower dissipation, suggesting increased interface rigidity.
• Pure chitosan films exhibited limited cell adhesion with low QCM-D frequency drop and dissipation.

Conclusions:

• Chitosan content significantly influences hFOB cell adhesion on PCL/CH blend films.
• QCM-D provides valuable insights into cell-polymer interfacial dynamics and cell morphology.
• Surface properties like hydrophilicity and film morphology play a crucial role in dictating cell adhesion behavior.