Hierarchical Micro-Nano Surface Roughness Wax-Impregnated Cotton Fabrics Platform for Cell-Based Diagnostics

The hierarchical micronano structured surface plays a significant role in influencing cell behavior, making it a critical feature for biomaterials. Increased surface roughness, such as that achieved with wax-impregnated cotton fabrics, mimics the 3D native environment of fibroblasts, offering a novel approach for cell-based diagnostics. Traditional biopsy methods are often time-consuming and complex. To address this, we developed a novel point-of-care diagnostic platform utilizing wax-impregnated cotton fabrics with varying melting points, resulting in a rough hierarchical surface conducive to cell attachment. The platform's performance was evaluated based on physical properties (surface characteristics and adhesion), cell growth profiles, attachment morphology, and cell staining ability using trichrome stain. Immunofluorescent and FESEM imaging indicated that the hierarchical roughness promoted cell growth and differentiation, enabling clear visualization of healthy and unhealthy cells under reflective mode microscopy. These findings underscore the potential of wax-impregnated cotton fabrics in biomedical applications, particularly in designing platforms for cell-material interfaces. Our point-of-care diagnostic method leverages hierarchical structures on wax-impregnated cotton fabrics, achieved by using waxes with varying melting points. During the cooling process, sedimentation of low-viscosity wax onto the cotton's hierarchical structure resulted in a rough surface. This micronano hierarchical roughness facilitated cell attachment, with performance evaluated through (a) physical properties, including surface roughness (R _a, 2300-30 nm) and surface adhesion stickiness (0.54-1.0 nN); (b) cell growth profiles and attachment morphology; and (c) cell staining ability using trichrome stain. Variations in surface topography and stickiness were found to influence cell adhesion and alter the actin cytoskeleton, mimicking a 3D native environment. To test the platform, Human Skin Fibroblast (HSF1184) and Breast Cancer (MCF-7) cell lines were used as biopsy models. Immunofluorescent and FESEM imaging confirmed that the hierarchical rough surface promoted cell growth and enabled efficient visualization of color intensities, aiding differentiation between healthy and unhealthy cells via reflective mode microscopy. These results provide valuable insights for the design and engineering of advanced platforms for cell-material interfaces in biomedical applications.