C3A cell behaviors on micropatterned chitosan collagen gelatin membranes

The influence of the properties and surface micropatterning of chitosan-collagen-gelatin (CCG) blended membranes on C3A cell's activities has been investigated. It is aimed to guide the cell growth and improve the growth rate in vitro for the application in tissue engineering. Masters with micropatterns are prepared on stainless steel plates by photolithography. The CCG membranes with surface micropatterns are then fabricated by soft lithography and dry-wet phase inversion techniques. The morphology and metabolic activity of cultured C3A cells on the membranes are recorded. When the C3A cells are seeded on the membranes with micropattern spacing of 200 microm width and 80 microm depth, they adhere and aggregate in the groove of the membranes in a few minutes. The aggregated cells migrate up to the surface of the ridge later. This phenomenon, however, is not found on membranes with a micropattern spacing of 500 microm width. In addition, it is demonstrated that the cells on the CCG membranes with micropatterns have higher metabolism and growth rates than those on the flat CCG membranes and on T-flask discs. Micropatterning on the membrane surface can affect the distribution of cells and the communication among cells, and results in a difference in cell adhesion, morphology, mobility, and growth activity.