title: Human Fetal Osteoblast Response on Poly(Methyl Methacrylate)/Polystyrene Demixed Thin Film Blends: Surface Chemistry Vs Topography Effects.
abstract: Recent advances in materials sciences have allowed for the development and fabrication of biomaterials that are capable of providing requisite cues to instigate cells to respond in a predictable fashion. We have developed a series of poly(methyl methacrylate)/polystyrene (PMMA/PS) polymer demixed thin films with nanotopographies ranging from nanoislands to nanopits to study the response of human fetal osteoblast cells (hFOBs). When PMMA was in excess in the blend composition, a nanoisland topography dominated, whereas a nanopit topography dominated when PS was in excess. PMMA was found to segregate to the top of the nanoisland morphology with PS preferring the substrate interface. To further ascertain the effects of surface chemistry vs topography, we plasma treated the polymer demixed films using an atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge reactor to alter the surface chemistry. Our results have shown that hFOBs did not have an increased short-term cellular response on pristine polymer demixed surfaces. However, increasing the hydrophilicty/wettability of the surfaces by oxygen functionalization causes an increase in the cellular response. These results indicate that topography alone is not sufficient to induce a positive cellular response, but the underlying surface chemistry is also important in regulating cell function.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Materials and Structures, University of Liverpool , Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L69 3GH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Raechelle A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: D'Sa
authors.affiliation: Nanotechnology and Integrated Bio-Engineering Centre (NIBEC), University of Ulster , Shore Road, Newtownabbey, BT37 0QB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jog
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raj
authors.affiliation: Nanotechnology and Integrated Bio-Engineering Centre (NIBEC), University of Ulster , Shore Road, Newtownabbey, BT37 0QB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Dickinson
authors.affiliation: Nanotechnology and Integrated Bio-Engineering Centre (NIBEC), University of Ulster , Shore Road, Newtownabbey, BT37 0QB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: McCabe
authors.affiliation: Nanotechnology and Integrated Bio-Engineering Centre (NIBEC), University of Ulster , Shore Road, Newtownabbey, BT37 0QB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Meenan
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D010006:Osteoblasts; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D011137:Polystyrenes; D017155:Wettability
chemical_list: D011137:Polystyrenes; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate
keywords: cellular response; human fetal osteoblasts; plasma surface modification; polymer demixing; surface chemistry; surface topography