Endothelial cell adhesion and proliferation on wrinkled diamond-like carbon films on grooved PDMS substrates

Abstract

Controlling the adhesion and proliferation of endothelial cells is essential for the development of functional vascular materials. In this study, we show that wrinkled diamond-like carbon (DLC) films formed on grooved PDMS substrates regulate endothelial cell alignment and proliferation through combined micro- and nanoscale topographical cues. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells cultured on these hierarchical patterns exhibited directional elongation along the grooves, while their lamellipodia and filopodia preferentially adhered to the wrinkle crests. Enzymatic assays confirmed sustained viability and proliferation across different wrinkle dimensions. These results demonstrate that hierarchical micro-/nanoscale topographies on DLC-coated PDMS substrates can effectively modulate endothelial cell behavior, offering promise for vascular tissue engineering.