Using QCM‐D for Real‐Time Analysis of Cell Adhesion Dynamics at Biointerfaces

Abstract Efficient cell adhesion is crucial for host tissue attachment and improving implant integration. This study aims at investigating adhesion of human gingival fibroblasts to functionalized biomaterial surfaces using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM‐D) and analyzing the dynamics of focal adhesion (FA) formation during this process. The QCM‐D responses are correlated with changes in cell morphology and activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in the absence or presence of serum proteins. As model surfaces, this work uses polystyrene oxidized by UV/ozone treatment (PS ox ) and tannic acid nanocoating formed on polystyrene (TA 60 ). Compared to PS ox , reduced cell adhesion on TA 60 with fibroblast establishing fewer FAs is observed in this work. The addition of serum promotes more stable cell adhesion, although the adsorbed protein corona slows initial cell spreading and FAK activation. Further, this work examines whether there is a relationship between QCM‐D responses and FAK activation. The data shows a positive correlation between the energy dissipation and temporal changes in phosphorylated FAK (pY397FAK), although the absolute value of pY397FAK cannot be derived from the QCM‐D response. Thus, this study demonstrates the usefulness of the QCM‐D as a technique for quantitative non‐invasive analysis of cell adhesion to functionalized surfaces.