AVS 51st International Symposium
    Biomaterial Interfaces Monday Sessions
       Session BI-MoP

Paper BI-MoP6
Biocompatibility of Microelectronic Materials

Monday, November 15, 2004, 5:00 pm, Room Exhibit Hall B

Session: Poster Session
Presenter: C. Almeder, Vienna University of Technology, Austria
Authors: H.D. Wanzenboeck, Vienna University of Technology, Austria
C. Almeder, Vienna University of Technology, Austria
E. Bertagnolli, Vienna University of Technology, Austria
E. Bogner, University Vienna, Austria
M. Wirth, University Vienna, Austria
F. Gabor, University Vienna, Austria
Correspondent: Click to Email
Cell-based biosensors endeavor to use microelectronic data acquisition and processing to evaluate specific signals from living cells. The potential of these bioelectronic sensors has been recognized for numerous applications in medicine, pharmaceutical research, environmental diagnostics and the food and processing industries. The interaction between living tissue and microelectronic materials is the critical issue for all those systems, as the inorganic material must neither interfer with nor harm the cells. The effects of different microelectronic materials on the growth of human colon carcinoma cells have been investigated. A systematic study of the survivability and the growth of an exemplary cell culture on various materials used in microelectronics was performed. The viability and the adhesion of colon carcinoma cells (Caco-2) was tested on 15 different materials - metals, dielectrics and semiconductors - commonly used in microelectronics fabrication. Growth inhibiting materials such as copper and blank gallium arsenide have been identified as well as highly biocompatible materials such as silicon, silicon nitride, chromium and gold. Cells have also been cultured on a microelectrode array consisting of metal and dielectric materials on the same substrate. Neither the sub200 nm height step nor the change of the material showed to effect the cell growth. Several materials have been successfully tested to facilitate the growth of cell structures. The results allow a versatile application for microelectrode arrays and demonstrates the wide compatibility of semiconductor technology for fabrication of cell-based biosensors.