Modulating the behaviors of C3A cells via surface charges of polyelectrolyte multilayers

The purpose of this study was to evaluate in vitro how the modulating surface charges of materials influenced the behaviors of hepatocytes. Cells of a human hepatocyte cell line, C3A, which have been used in a clinically tested bioartificial liver, were conducted as cell models. Polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) of poly-l-lysine and alginate biopolymers were fabricated and then the zeta potential was assessed. Protein adsorption study showed that fibrinogen deposition could be modulated via tuning the terminal layer and the surface charges of PEMs. Furthermore, through observing the cellular morphology, viability, functional protein analysis and gene expression, we found that the behavior of C3A cells could be modulated via tuning of surface charges on PEMs, which was different from that via grafting functional groups on PEMs. It suggested that the PEMs with different charges could be used in vitro to manipulate cell behaviors to improve upon the design of tissue engineering.