title: Cell behaviour on micropatterned substrata: limits of extracellular matrix geometry for spreading and adhesion.
abstract: Cell adhesion, spreading and migration require the dynamic formation and dispersal of contacts with the extracellular matrix (ECM). In vivo, the number, availability and distribution of ECM binding sites dictate the shape of a cell and determine its mobility. To analyse the geometrical limits of ECM binding sites required for cell attachment and spreading, we used microcontact printing to produce regular patterns of ECM protein dots of defined size separated by nonadhesive regions. Cells cultured on these substrata adhere to and spread on ECM regions as small as 0.1 microm2, when spacing between dots is less than 5 microm. Spacing of 5-25 microm induces a cell to adapt its shape to the ECM pattern. The ability to spread and migrate on dots > or =1 microm2 ceases when the dot separation is > or =30 microm. The extent of cell spreading is directly correlated to the total substratum coverage with ECM-proteins, but irrespective of the geometrical pattern. An optimal spreading extent is reached at a surface coating above 15%. Knowledge of these geometrical limits is essential for an understanding of cell adhesion and migration, and for the design of artificial surfaces that optimally interact with cells in a living tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitaetstrasse 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lehnert
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wehrle-Haller
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Weiland
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ballestrem
authors.forename: Beat A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Imhof
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bastmeyer
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D048429:Cell Size / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D022001:Focal Adhesions / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins