Biomaterial surface engineering and the integration of cell-adhesive ligands represent an expanding frontier in biological research with significant potential for biotechnological applications. The intricate interplay between cells and their microenvironment, characterized by chemical and physical cues spanning nanometers to microns, underscores the critical role of cellular behavior modulation.

Adhesion dynamics, mediated through receptors like integrins, facilitate the transduction of microenvironmental information into intracellular signaling, impacting cell fate decisions. Surface modification of biomaterials profoundly influences cellular responses, especially at the cell-surface interface where all functional interactions occur. This work delves into strategies to enhance cellular activities by manipulating material properties, focusing primarily on silanization, which is crucial for further functionalization with bioactive molecules to enhance cell adhesion. This study delves into the influence of diverse silanization methods employing various silane molecules and distinct functionalization strategies on silicon wafer surface functionalization. The goal is to enable subsequent conjugation of RGD peptide molecules and assess their impact on cell adhesion. The research investigates the grafting of three distinct silanes onto silicon wafers using both spin coating and immersion methods. Examining the influence of different alkyl chain lengths and protecting groups sheds light on their effects on surface peptide distribution, density, and subsequent cellular behavior. This elucidation, for the first time, provides insight into their implications for enhancing cell adhesion. This study adds to our understanding of surface modification strategies, providing valuable insights into optimizing silane-based self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) before peptide or protein grafting, aiming for enhanced cell adhesion. Specifically, it reconsiders the common use of APTES molecules in this context. The findings pave the way for tailoring biomaterial surfaces to modulate cellular behavior, holding promise for diverse biotechnological applications.