Porous silica supports for micro-Raman spectroscopic studies of individual living cells

• Published in: Journal of molecular structure 2013-10, Vol.1050, p.232-237
• Main Authors: Cristini-Robbe, O., Raulin, K., Dubart, F., Bernard, R., Kinowski, C., Damene, N., El Yazidi, I., Boed, A., Turrell, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Autoclaves; Chemical Sciences; Human; Human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells; Living cells; or physical chemistry; Porosity; Raman spectroscopy; Silica gel; Silica gels; Silicon dioxide; Sol–gel; Spectra; Theoretical and; Toxicity; Xerogels
• ISSN: 0022-2860; 1872-8014; 0022-2860
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2013.06.063

[Display omitted] •Xerogel surfaces are excellent supports for in situ proliferation of MCF-7 cells.•Support surface morphology affects the adherence and cell life time.•Raman shows that the substrates enable the maintenance of cell viability for 36h.•Xerogels are promising substrates for rapid testing of drug toxicity. A work was undertaken to explore the possibility of using porous silica gels as support materials for in vitro studies of individual living cells. Accordingly, tetra methyl orthosilicate-derived silica xerogels were prepared and tested as substrates for human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells. Micro-Raman spectra and BET measurements were used to determine the effect of sol-pH and autoclave sterilization on the substrate. MCF-7 cells were then seeded and grown on the resulting silica gels. Combined techniques show that (a) sol-pH affects substrate porosity and (b) autoclave conditions affect only the substrate surface thus increasing the surface porosity. Micro-Raman spectra of in situ grown MCF-7 cells indicate that they proliferate well on these xerogel surfaces with a preference for base-catalyzed substrates and that the surface morphology of supports can have a definite effect on the adherence and on the life time of human cells. Spectral evolutions observed for cells over a period of 48h have made it possible to show that these substrates enable the easy maintenance of cell viability for over 36h and that micro-Raman techniques make it possible to study individual cells and to characterize evolutional changes at different stages of their life-times. Results point to these new porous silica supports as promising substrates for rapid screening of drug toxicity.