Cytocompatibility and Toxicity of Functional Coatings Engineered at Cell Surfaces - Cell Surface Engineering: Fabrication of Functional Nanoshells - page 98

CHAPTER 6
Cytocompatibility and Toxicity
of Functional Coatings
Engineered at Cell Surfaces

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EUGENIA KHARLAMPIEVA* AND VERONIKA KOZLOVSKAYA

University of Alabama at Birmingham, Chemistry Department,
901 14 th Street South, Birmingham, Alabama USA, 35294
*Email: [e-mail]

The cell surface is very complex and regulates diverse physical and chemical
processes. Engineering the cell features by modifying cell surfaces is a
powerful tool for manipulating cell properties and controlling interactions
between cells and the environment. In this way, a protective environment
can be created to prolong cell lifetime and functions; and biological hybrids
based on synergistic properties of living cells and nanomaterials can be
developed. To be modified, cells are exposed to various types of nano-
materials including natural and synthetic polymers, nanoparticles, and
small reactive molecules. Modification conditions may require exposure of
modified cells to chemical and physical stresses provided through changes
in pH, temperature, ionic shocks, or toxic media. Depending on the pro-
cedure, various types of cells may react in a different manner. The cell re-
sponse to the modification processes or their short- or long-term effects are
evaluated by measuring cytotoxicity, which is determined by cell death, or
the inhibition of cell proliferation or its metabolic activity.
In this chapter we will discuss various methods used in evaluation of the
cell toxicity; cytotoxic effects of various nanomaterials on different cells; and

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