Stem cells adhesion by functionalized nanodiamonds

Abstract

Cells are surrounded by extracellular matrix in their natural environment [1]; nanoscale topography is observed on the extra–cellular matrix surface. The understanding of these nano–cell interactions is essential if advances in knowledge about cell motility, morphology, proliferation and differentiation are to occur [2]. In this report the interaction between nanodiamond nanoparticles, size 5 nm and human stem cells has been investigated. It has been shown that nanodiamonds with oxygen containing groups on the surface allow for a significantly better stem cells attachment over hydrogen functionalization. Nanodiamonds surface modification by oxygen demonstrate strong resonant as negatively charged structures and strong conjugate with the positively charged extracellular matrix. Contact angle measurements and protein adsorption experiments have enabled the development of a probable explanation as to why this difference is observed. As extracellular matrix used both mixture of the cyanobiphenyl organic compound where banana-shaped molecules (2x0,5 nm) and ball shaped the PPI dendrimer molecules where well oriented around nanodiamond to onion or ball structures, as illustrated in Figure1.