Investigating How Organic Solvents Affect Tissue Culture Polystyrene Surfaces through Responses of Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Polymer coating of tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) surfaces promotes their biofunctionality, which can aid manipulation of cellular functions. However, the effect of the solvent used for polymer coating is yet to be elucidated. In this study, solvent-treated TCPS surfaces using water, methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, and dimethyl sulfoxide are fabricated. Solvent treatment of TCPS surfaces is performed by spreading solvents onto the surfaces and allowing them to dry. Solvent treatment changes the surface roughness and wettability, depending on the kind of solvents. In addition, these surface property changes affected the extension, proliferation, and differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. These results suggest that solvent selection for polymer coating is crucial in the regulation of cell responses. Further, treatment with an appropriate solvent can result in a more suitable culture environment for modulating cellular functions.