CELL BEHAVIOR ON MICROPATTERNED SURFACES

The local microenvironment of tissue cells has a profound influence on cell behaviour such as cell shape, guidance of movement, and so on. One approach to understanding this phenomenon, which is being applied by a number of groups, is to model possible cues using microfabrication technology. Such techniques have been used to examine the behaviour of a number of cell types. The responses of fibroblasts, epithelial cells and neurones have been determined on a variety of micropatterned surfaces. Conventional photolithographic techniques and laser holography have been employed to define topographic patterns with feature sizes ranging from 25 mu m to 130 nm. Photolithography, combined with silanization of glass, has been used to chemically pattern surfaces; this results in differentially adhesive surfaces that mimic possible in vivo cues. The determination of the response of various cell types to these various surfaces has provided detailed information on the biological mechanisms controlling cell behaviour, and on aspects of tissue responses to implanted artificial devices; it has also illustrated the potential for technology utilizing immobilized cellular patterns.