TEXTURING OF POLYMER SURFACES AT THE CELLULAR-LEVEL

A technique to surface-texture polymer sheets with any conceivable surface morphology is described. It uses technology developed for semiconductor device fabrication. It allows the definition and control of implant surface texture at subcellular levels, down to 2-mu-m dimensions, and the cellular response to those textures to be studied in vitro and in vivo. The results of a pilot study are presented and the biological significance of a microscopic surface texture is discussed.