All these factors are known to facilitate VSMCs proliferation [9, 19, 27]. Figure 7 The photographs of VSMCs adhered (1st day after seeding) and proliferated (6th day after seeding). On pristine glass and gold-coated glass (20 and 150 s sputtering times, 20 and 40 mA discharge currents). Conclusions Glass substrates sputtered with gold for different sputtering times and at different discharge currents were studied. The thickness of the deposited gold film is an increasing function of the sputtering time and the discharge current. Linear dependence

between the sputtering time and the layer thickness is evident even in the initiatory stage of nanoparticles/layer AG-014699 mw growth. A rapid decline of the sheet resistance is observed on gold films deposited for the times above 100 s. The contact angle is a slowly increasing function of the sputtering time for discharge currents from 10 to 30 mA. After the formation of continuous gold coverage, the samples exhibit hydrophobic character. Bindarit The UV–vis absorbance of gold films increase with increasing sputtering time and discharge current

and film thickness. Gold deposition leads to dramatic changes in the surface morphology and roughness in comparison to pristine glass substrate. AFM images prove the creation of separated gold islands in initial deposition phase and a continuous gold coverage for longer deposition times. Gold deposition has a positive effect on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. The largest number of cells

was observed on sample sputtered with gold for 20 s and at the discharge current of 40 mA. This sample exhibits lowest contact angle, low relative roughness, and only mild increase of electrical conductivity. Under the present experimental conditions, the specific contribution of individual factors to cell interaction with the substrate cannot be classified separately. The gold/glass structures from studied in this work could find an application as biosensors. Acknowledgements This work was supported by the GACR under project P108/12/G108. References 1. Chen M, Goodman DW: Catalytically active gold: from nanoparticles to ultrathin films. Accounts Chem Res 2006, 39:739–746.CrossRef 2. Ruiz AM, Cornet A, Sakai G, Shimanoe K, Morante IR, Yamazoe NY: Cr-doped TiO 2 gas sensor for exhaust NO 2 monitoring. Sensor Actuat B-Chem 2003, 93:509–518.CrossRef 3. Fernandez CD, Manera MG, Spadarecchia J, Maggioni G: Study of the gas optical sensing properties of Au-polyimide nanocomposite films prepared by ion implantation. Sensor Actuat B-Chem 2005, 111:225–229.CrossRef 4. Hrelescu C, Sau TK, Rogach AL, Jäckel F, Feldmann J: Single gold nanostars enhance Raman EX527 scattering. Appl Phys Lett 2009, 94:153113.CrossRef 5. Hosoya Y, Suga T, Yanagawa T, Kurokawa Y: Linear and nonlinear optical properties sol–gel-derived Au nanometer-particle-doped alumina. J Appl Phys 1997, 81:1475–1480.CrossRef 6.