Fullerene C60 and hybrid C60/Ti films as substrates for adhesion and growth of bone cells

Thin films of fullerenes C-60 Ti or binary C-60/Ti composites (ratio C, versus Ti 1:1) were deposited on microscopic glass coverslips in a continuous or micropatterned form. The latter was created using a metallic mask with rectangular openings, and contained prominences from 108 +/- 2 nm to 362 +/- 5 nm in height. Some micropatterned C-60 and C-60/Ti films were irradiated with Au-' ions (energy 1.8 MeV, fluence 2 x 10(14) cm(-2)), which led to the conversion of some C-60 molcules into amorphous carbon (a-C). The films were then seeded with human osteoblast-like MG 63 cells (similar to 17,000 cells/cm(2)). One and 3 days after seeding, the cells reached numbers which were usually similar or even higher in comparison with the values on control glass coverslips and standard cell culture polystyrene dishes. Oil micropatterned layers, the cells adhered and grew preferentially in grooves among the prominences (similar to 57% to 90% of cells). On day 3 after seeding, this preferential colonization of the grooves disappeared in the ion-irradiated layers, which could be explained by a conversion of C. into amorphous carbon and increased hydrophilia of the layer. Thus, all tested films gave good support to the adhesion and growth of bone-derived MG 63 cells. In addition, microstructured C-60 and C-60/Ti films containing prominences and grooves on their surface could be applied for regionally-selective cell adhesion and directed growth of cells. (C) 2008 WILEY-NCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.