Characterization of fibroblast morphology on bioactive surfaces using vertical scanning interferometry

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Donor tissue scarcity limits articular cartilage regeneration.
• Dermal fibroblasts can adopt chondrocytic characteristics when seeded on specific surfaces.
• Cell roundness, measured by height and surface area-volume ratio, correlates with chondrocytic behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the roundness of dermal fibroblasts under various extracellular matrix protein coatings.
• To investigate the impact of different protein coatings (aggrecan, collagen type II, decorin) and application techniques on fibroblast morphology.
• To identify optimal conditions for inducing a chondrocytic phenotype in dermal fibroblasts for cartilage tissue engineering.

Main Methods:

• Coating glass substrates with aggrecan, collagen type II, and decorin using static drying, airbrush, and painting techniques.
• Utilizing Vertical Scanning Interferometry (VSI) to characterize protein-coated surfaces and cell morphology.
• Measuring fibroblast height and surface area-volume ratio after 24 hours of seeding.

Main Results:

• Fibroblast height varied significantly (1.0–4.0 µm) based on protein coating, application method, and seeding position (p < 0.002).
• Maximal cell heights were observed on aggrecan and collagen type II surfaces applied via airbrush or static drying.
• Surface area-volume ratios ranged from 1.75 to 11.94 µm⁻¹, with decorin yielding the lowest ratio, followed by collagen type II and aggrecan.

Conclusions:

• Optimal protein coating and application methods can significantly influence dermal fibroblast morphology towards a chondrocytic phenotype.
• These findings provide a pathway for developing strategies to regenerate articular cartilage, overcoming limitations posed by donor tissue availability.
• The study highlights the potential of using modified dermal fibroblasts in cartilage repair applications.