Fabrication, characterisation and performance of hydrophilic and super-hydrophilic silica as cell culture surfaces

We demonstrate a straightforward procedure for the controlled formation of silica films on tissue culture polystyrene (PS) surfaces. The films were formed by sequentially treating PS with polyaniline, glutaric dialdehyde and protein prior to silica formation. The films could be tailored to exhibit super-hydrophilicity (contact angle < 5°) which was retained for more than two months under ambient conditions. Both hydrophilic and super-hydrophilic...