The effect of alkyl chain length and terminal group chemistry on the attachment and growth of murine 3T3 fibroblasts and primary human osteoblasts on self-assembled monolayers of alkanethiols on gold

Murine 3T3 fibroblasts and primary human osteoblasts have been cultured on self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) formed by the adsorption of alkanethiols of varying terminal group and alkyl chain length on gold. It has been found that the interactions of both cell types with SAMs are influenced by surprisingly subtle changes in adsorbate structure. Both the nature of the adsorbate terminal group and the length of the alkyl chain have a significant influence on cellular attachment and growth. For both cell types, attachment and growth on the carboxylic acid terminated SAMs was extensive and was accompanied by a high degree of cell spreading. In contrast, attachment and growth on long-chain methyl terminated SAMs were poor. Attachment and growth on short-chain methyl terminated SAMs were intermediate, with reasonable numbers of attached cells being observed and some degree of cell spreading. Sharply contrasting behaviour was observed for the two cell types when cultured on hydroxy terminated SAMs. It was found that fibroblasts attached poorly to these surfaces, while osteoblasts attached and grew nearly as successfully on short-chain hydroxy terminated SAMs as on carboxylic acid terminated SAMs. Osteoblasts attached less well to long-chain hydroxy terminated SAMs, but better than to methyl terminated SAMs.