Plasma-assisted surface chemical patterning for single-cell culture

Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-like films were grafted onto various substrates by plasma polymerization of diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (diglyme). Low-power diglyme plasma conditions yielded PEG-like films exhibiting nonfouling behavior, as evidenced by the significant decrease in protein adsorption and cell attachment on substrates coated by these films. Different chemical patterns were produced on substrates with grafted PEG-like films using silicon or polydimethylsiloxane membrane shadow masks fabricated by photolithography and a simple one-step plasma etch process. Culture of single human mesenchymal stem cells on chemically patterned polystyrene dishes demonstrated a strong dependence of the actin structure and nuclear morphology on the cell shape and spreading area.