Nanorods for Preventing Normal and Tumor Cell Adhesion

Cell interactions with nanostructures are of broad interest because of applications in controlling tissue response to biomedical implants. A key goal is to prevent mammalian cell adhesion and proliferation on implanted devices. In this study, we explored the potential of densely coated nanorod monolayers for controlling normal and tumor cell adhesion. Densely packed silicon dioxide (SiO₂) coated nanorods were fabricated with a solution-based technique. Fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells and esophageal tumor epithelial cells were unable to adhere on dense nanorods. Cells could not assemble vinculin-marked focal adhesions, and were poorly spread. Cell survival in adherent cells was reduced by more than 100-fold on nanorods. When nanorods were spatially patterned on micron-length scales with intervening flat areas, cells preferred to stay on flat areas, but migrated frequently over nanorods to other flat regions. Our results support a model in which nanorods interfere with integrin clustering at the nanoscale, thereby preventing cell spreading and promoting cell death. We propose that dense monolayers of nanorods are a promising nanotechnology for preventing mammalian cell fouling of biomaterials.