Influence of Gold Coating on Dense Electrodes in Multilayer Coatings of Chitosan and Hyaluronic Acid for Tumor Cell Detection

Introduction: Multilayered films comprising chitosan (CHI) and hyaluronic acid (HA) have prominence in biotechnological applications due to their biocompatibility and capacity to enhance cell adhesion, particularly relevant in cancer research where the interaction between HA and CD44 aids in capturing circulating tumor cells (CTCs). The utilization of these films in biosensing platforms shows significant potential for early detection and monitoring of cancer. This study focuses on the functionalization of titanium electrodes with gold nanoparticles and nanostructured film (CHI-HA) to explore their potential in CTC detection.

Methodology: Ti6Al4V electrodes, were fuctionalized with gold nanoparticles through cyclic voltammetry, and depositing CHI/HA films using Layer-by-Layer technique. Surface morphology was analyzed with atomic force microscopy. PC3 cell adhesion studies were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the modified electrodes in promoting tumor cell attachment.

Results: Electrochemical characterization supported the efficacy of cyclic voltammetry-deposited gold nanoparticles, confirming enhanced conductivity of the electrodes, crucial for biosensing applications. Roughness analysis indicated the gold coating's contribution to surface leveling, potentially optimizing interaction with biological molecules. CHI/HA film deposition introduced polymer islands, enhancing surface roughness and promoting cell adhesion. Adhesion studies showed a significant increase in tumor cell attachment on multilayer film-coated electrodes compared to uncoated ones, suggesting their potential for tumor cell detection and CTC capture. Overall, the combination of gold nanoparticle functionalization and CHI/HA film deposition improved conductivity, surface roughness, and tumor cell adhesion properties, promising for cancer diagnostics. Further optimization and validation studies are necessary to fully exploit these electrodes' capabilities in clinical settings

Conclusion: The study presents the effectiveness of gold nanoparticle functionalization and CHI/HA film deposition in enhancing tumor cell adhesion on electrode surfaces. Provinding solid basis for further research in refining fabrication processes and exploring additional functionalities to augment their performance in clinical cancer detection applications.