Nanotexturing gold surfaces with dendrimers for selective cell adhesion

By creating a nanotexture consisting of a monolayer of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers on a gold surface, we have achieved a potentially versatile method for selectively and predictably adhering cells onto manufactured gold constructs. We manufactured 3×3 gold spot arrays on glass slides and applied continuous culture cells (SH-SY5Y) and primary neurons (rat dorsal root ganglion cells) and monitored cell preference and morphology on the nanotextured surfaces. Additionally, by applying our techniques for gold-surface glass chamber slides, we assayed each cell population for total number of adhering cells and β₁ integrin expression to monitor cell preference and activity, respectively. These results were compared to traditional poly-D-lysine coatings. Both SH-SY5Y cells and the rat DRG cells adhered preferentially to the nanotextured gold spots versus adjacent glass areas, while no preference for either the nontextured gold or glass surfaces were observed. Cells more readily adhered to the nanotextured surfaces, while β₁-integrin expression appears reduced. The use of G5 dendrimer monolayers appears to selectively grow cells, without necessarily relying on integrin expression.