Cellular adhesion and neuronal excitability on functionalised diamond surfaces

• Published in: Diamond and related materials 2005-03, Vol.14 (3), p.669-674
• Main Authors: Ariano, P., Baldelli, P., Carbone, E., Gilardino, A., Lo Giudice, A., Lovisolo, D., Manfredotti, C., Novara, M., Sternschulte, H., Vittone, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biocompatibility; Biomaterials; Chemical vapor deposition (including plasma-enhanced cvd, mocvd, etc.); Chemical vapour deposition; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Diamond film; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Mechanical and acoustical properties; adhesion; Methods of deposition of films and coatings; film growth and epitaxy; Neurons; Physics; Solid surfaces and solid-solid interfaces; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties)
• ISSN: 0925-9635; 1879-0062
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diamond.2004.11.021

The resting or evoked activity of neuronal networks can be effectively monitored by using multielectrode arrays (MEA), which allow non-invasive extracellular stimulation and recording of electrical signals in parallel from multiple cells. Diamond possesses unique properties (biocompatibility, optical transparency, possibility of modifying the electronic and hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties at the nanoscale), which makes it a promising material to fabricate stable MEAs for long-term extracellular recordings of electrical and optical signals in living neurons. In order to explore the capability of diamond for fabricating MEAs as cell-based biosensors, we report here the first study on the adhesion and cell excitability (i.e., the ability of cells to generate and propagate trains of electrical impulses) on hydrogen (HTD)- and oxygen (OTD)-terminated diamond surfaces. Adhesion and functional properties of cultured rat hippocampal neurons and chick ciliary ganglia have been quantitatively evaluated using well-established biophysical techniques. Cells survive, adhere and maintain their electrical properties (synaptic activity, ion channels availability, Ca 2+ signals during neuronal stimulation) for days provided that mixtures of adhesion molecules (poly- d-lysine, poly- dl-ornithine, laminin) are used to favour cell anchoring on diamond surface.