Investigation methods of cell attachment on porous silicon matrix

Different porous silicon layers, with a large pore size distribution were realised on p+Si (100), followed by thermal treatments for structure surface modification/stabilisation in order to ensure the PS biocompatibility. On these structures, murine melanomas (B16 - F1), (B16-F10) and hamster ovarian cells (CHO) were grown, and studied by different investigation methods: scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and optical microscopy for the pore morphologies investigation, fluorescence microscopy for the cell/surface occupancy investigation and fluorescence spectroscopy to study the adhesion process and the interaction of cells with the substrate.