Attempted endocytosis of nano-environment produced by colloidal lithography by human fibroblasts

Control of the cells' nanoenvironment is likely to be important in the future of cell and tissue engineering. Microtopography has been shown to provide cues to cells that elicit a large range of cell responses, including control of adhesion, morphology, apoptosis and gene regulations. Now, researchers are focusing on nanotopography as techniques such as colloidal and electron beam lithography and polymer demixing have become available. In this study, human fibroblast response to nanocolumns (160-nm high, 100-nm diameter, 230-nm centre-centre spacing) produced by colloidal lithography are considered. Using electron microscopy and immunofluorescence to image the cytoskeleton, clathrin and dynamin, it was observed that the cells try to endocytose the nanocolumns. It also appeared that a small population of the cells changed to unusual morphologies with macrophage-like processes and highly disrupted cytoskeleton. These observations could have implications for nanomaterials science in areas such as cell transfection and drug delivery.