Rates of attachment of fibroblasts to self-assembled monolayers formed by the adsorption of alkylthiols onto gold surfaces

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of alkylthiols on gold surfaces have been prepared and characterised by contact angle goniometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Murine 3T3 fibroblasts were cultured on single-component monolayers of adsorbates with carboxylic acid and methyl termini, and the rates of cellular attachment measured over 90 minutes. Cell attachment was found to be approximately twice as rapid for carboxylic acid-terminated monolayers as for methyl-terminated monolayers. After 24 hours, substantially greater numbers of 3T3 cells were found to be attached to the hydrophilic monolayers than were attached to the hydrophobic ones. Murine 3T3 cells were also cultured on patterned SAMs which were prepared using UV photochemistry and characterised using scanning electron microscopy. The cells attached exclusively to the acid-functionalised areas of the patterned surface, leaving the methyl-functionalised regions bare. The patterns also strongly influenced the morphology of the attached cells.