title: Micro-/nano-structured superhydrophobic surfaces in the biomedical field: part I: basic concepts and biomimetic approaches.
abstract: Inspired by natural structures, great attention has been devoted to the study and development of surfaces with extreme wettable properties. The meticulous study of natural systems revealed that the micro/nano-topography of the surface is critical to obtaining unique wettability features, including superhydrophobicity. However, the surface chemistry also has an important role in such surface characteristics. As the interaction of biomaterials with the biological milieu occurs at the surface of the materials, it is expected that synthetic substrates with extreme and controllable wettability ranging from superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic regimes could bring about the possibility of new investigations of cell-material interactions on nonconventional surfaces and the development of alternative devices with biomedical utility. This first part of the review will describe in detail how proteins and cells interact with micro/nano-structured surfaces exhibiting extreme wettabilities.
authors.affiliation: 3B's Research Group-Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, 4806-909 Taipas, Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Catarina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: João F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mano
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011506:Proteins
keywords: bioinspired; biomimetic; cell adhesion; cell proliferation; contact angles; micro/nano-roughness; nature; protein adsorption; superhydrophilic; superhydrophobic; surfaces; tissue engineering; wettability