Hidden Electrostatic Impact of Cell Growth: Influence of Contact-Induced Surface Charges on Cell Proliferation and Adhesion

Abstract

Since cells are extraordinarily sensitive, even slight variables can critically affect the reproducibility of cell culture outcomes. Therefore, despite significant investments of time and resources to mitigate the impact of unnecessary external factors such as biological and chemical impurities, inconsistencies in cell culture results still pose unavoidable errors, even under identical conditions. In this study, contact-induced electrostatic charges as an overlooked external factor that could influence cell culture outcomes, are proposed first. These experimental findings, which are derived from measuring the electrical output, surface potential, and electrostatic fields caused by these charges, confirm that substantial electrostatic charges can be generated and accumulated on the surface of cell culture vessels through contact with other materials. Subsequently, the influence of generated charges on cells by cultivating them on specially fabricated cell culture vessels, which can provide various electrostatic environments, is examined. The results clearly demonstrate that excessive electrostatic charges suppress cell proliferation and metabolic activity, while neutralizing these charges significantly enhances both cellular proliferation and adhesion. These results reveal that the quantity of electrostatic charges significantly affects cell proliferation and adhesion. Furthermore, the management of electrostatic charges could enhance cell growth and reduce errors in cell culture outcomes, thereby improving both cost and time efficiency.