title: Cell responses to metallic nanostructure arrays with complex geometries.
abstract: Metallic nanopillar/nanowires are emerging as promising platforms for biological applications, as they allow for the direct characterization and regulation of cell function. Herein we study the response of cells to a versatile nanopillar platform. Nanopillar arrays of various shape, size, and spacing and different nanopillar-substrate interfacial strengths were fabricated and interfaced with fibroblasts and several unique cell-nanopillar interactions were observed using high resolution scanning electron microscopy. Nanopillar penetration, engulfment, tilting, lift off and membrane thinning, were observed by manipulating nanopillar material, size, shape and spacing. These unique cell responses to various nanostructures can be employed for a wide range of applications including the design of highly sensitive nano-electrodes for single-cell probing.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Cell Biomechanics Laboratory, Departments of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering, University of California Berkeley, 208A Stanley Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-1762, USA.
authors.forename: Zeinab
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jahed
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Molladavoodi
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada.
authors.forename: Brandon B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada.
authors.forename: Maud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gorbet
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada. Electronic address: tttsui@uwaterloo.ca.
authors.forename: Ting Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Tsui
authors.affiliation: Molecular Cell Biomechanics Laboratory, Departments of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering, University of California Berkeley, 208A Stanley Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-1762, USA; Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. Electronic address: mofrad@berkeley.edu.
authors.forename: Mohammad R K
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mofrad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004566:Electrodes; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D041701:Swiss 3T3 Cells; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Cell adhesion; Mechanotransduction; Nanopillar; Nanotopography sensing