Cell Response on Laser-Patterned Ti/Zr/Ti and Ti/Cu/Ti Multilayer Systems

Arranged patterns obtained via ultrafast laser processing on the surface of Ti/Cu/Ti/Si and Ti/Zr/Ti/Si thin-film systems are reported. Two differently designed multilayer thin films Ti/Cu/Ti/Si and Ti/Zr/Ti/Si were deposited on silicon using the ion sputtering method. The bioactive surfaces of these systems involve the formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) in each of the laser-written lines of mesh patterns on 5 x 5 mm areas. The formation of nano- and micro-patterns with an ultra-thin oxide film on the surfaces was used to observe the effects of morphology and proliferation of the MRC-5 cell culture line. To determine whether Ti-based thin films have a toxic effect on living cells, an MTT assay was performed. The relative cytotoxic effect, as a percentage of surviving cells, showed that there was no difference in cell number between the Ti-based thin films and the control cells. There was also no difference in the viability of the MRC-5 cells, except for the Ti/Cu/Ti/Si system, where there was a slight 10% decrease in cell viability.