In this study we investigate an alternative method for designing and obtaining novel scaffolds for analyzing the influence of geometries on tissue engineering processes. The method is based on the combination of conventional and accessible rapid prototyping technologies with plasma processing using a hydrogen‐free diamond‐like carbon (DLC) coating in order to improve cell–tissue interactions. The proposed method allows a precise control of scaffold structure and enables in vitro studies linked to cell growth and tissue formation because of the highly biocompatible DLC surface. Several designs with different hole sizes and surface topographies have been manufactured for subsequent in vitro study of human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) growth and aggregation, so as to validate our approach.

The surface properties of porous silicon (PSi) evolve rapidly in phosphate-buffered saline. X-ray photoelectron spectra indicate the formation of a Si-OH and C-O enriched surface, which becomes increasingly hydrophilic with aging time. Multiscale stripe micropatterns of Si and PSi have been fabricated by means of a high-energy ion-beam irradiation process. These micropatterns have been aged in physiological conditions and used to analyze human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) adhesion. The actin cytoskeleton of hMSCs orients following the uniaxial micropatterns. In the wider Si stripes, hMSCs are dominantly located on Si areas. However, for reduced Si widths, adhesion is avoided on PSi by a split assembly of the actin cytoskeleton on two parallel Si areas. These results confirm that nanostructured Si-OH/C-O-rich surfaces with hydrophilic character are specially adapted for the creation of cell adhesion surface contrasts.

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Polyethylene glycol (PEG) films with PEG diacrylate (PEGd) have been prepared comprising a Ti alkoxyde that turns the film into a nano-hybrid with potential interest for the production of controlled bioadhesive surfaces. Precursor sols were cast onto Si (100) surfaces, producing conformed films. Modification of such surfaces was performed by exposing the surfaces to UV light (365 nm) at different exposure times. The surface of the hybrid films was characterized by using atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is concluded that the UV exposure induces a densification of the film and an in-film coalescence of the titania nanoparticles. This had a direct effect on the wettability of the films as determined by water contact angle measurements. Both as-cast and UV modified surfaces were proved to be biocompatible as deduced from nuclear immunocytochemistry proliferation assays.