title: The biocompatibility of materials used in printed circuit board technologies with respect to primary neuronal and K562 cells.
abstract: Printed circuit board (PCB) technology can be used for producing lab-on-a-chip (LOAC) devices. PCBs are characterized by low production costs and large-scale development, both essential elements in the frame of disposable applications. LOAC platforms have been employed not only for diagnostic and/or analytical purposes, but also for identification and isolation of eukaryotic cells, including cancer and stem cells. Accordingly, the compatibility of the employed materials with the biological system under analysis is critical for the development of LOAC devices to be proposed for efficient and safe cell isolation. In this study, we analyzed the in-vitro compatibility of a large set of materials and surface treatments used for LOAC development and evaluation with quasi-standard PCB processes. Biocompatibility was analyzed on hippocampal primary cells (a model of attached cell cultures), in comparison with the reference K562 cell line (a model of cells growing in suspension). We demonstrate here that some of the materials under study alter survival, organization, morphology and adhesion capacity of hippocampal cells, and inhibit growth and differentiation of K562 cells. Nonetheless, a subset of the materials tested did not negatively affect these functions, thus demonstrating that PCB technology, with some limitations, is suitable for the realization of LOAC devices well compatible at least with these preparations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology and Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara 44100, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazzuferi
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bovolenta
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bocchi
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Iafelice
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guerrieri
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Destro
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borgatti
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simonato
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gambari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004581:Electronics; D006801:Humans; D020014:K562 Cells; D008420:Manufactured Materials / Q000032:analysis*; D008422:Materials Testing; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials