Cell growth as a sheet on three-dimensional sharp-tip nanostructures.
Cells in vivo encounter with and react to the extracellular matrix materials on a nanometer scale. Recent advances in nanofabrication technologies allowing the precise control of a nanostructure's pattern, periodicity, shape, and height have enabled a systematic study of cell interactions with three-dimensional nanotopographies. In this report, we examined the behavior of human foreskin fibroblasts on well-ordered dense arrays (post and grate patterns with a 230-nm pitch) of sharp-tip nanostructures with varying three-dimensionalities (from 50 to 600 nm in structural height) over time-until a cell sheet was formed. Although cells started out smaller and proliferated slower on tall nanostructures (both posts and grates) than on smooth surfaces, they became confluent to form a sheet in 3 weeks. On grate patterns, significant cell elongation in alignment with the underlying pattern was observed and maintained over time. On tall nanostructures, cells grew while raised on sharp tips, resulting in a weak total adherence to the solid surface. A sheet of cells was easily peeled off from such surfaces, suggesting that nanoscale topographies can be used as the basis for cell-sheet tissue engineering.
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, University of California, Los Angeles, 90095, USA. cchoi@stevens.edu
Chang-Hwan
CH
Choi
Sepideh
S
Heydarkhan-Hagvall
Benjamin M
BM
Wu
James C Y
JC
Dunn
Ramin E
RE
Beygui
Chang-Jin
CJ
Kim
D002448:Cell Adhesion; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D048430:Cell Shape; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*