Relation between surface properties of thin composite films and osteoblast behaviour in vitro

Si supports for cell culture were modified using poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and bentonite in order to obtain 'sandwich'-like structures. A layer of PAA cast from water solution was followed with a bentonite layer also cast from water dispersion, then another PAA layer and so on up to six layers. The prepared surfaces had different physical and chemical properties like thickness, topography and elasticity. Chemical composition was characterized by Raman spectroscopy. The elastic properties and topography of modified sandwich-like surfaces were evaluated using nanoindentation and atomic force microscopy measurements. In the next step bone cells were cultured on such modified surfaces composed of one to six layers. The influence of the substrate surface properties on the growth and behaviour of human bone derived cells (HBDC) was studied. The influence of surface topography, elasticity and chemical composition on cells is discussed