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Fabrication of Gradient Nanopattern by Thermal Nanoimprinting Technique and Screening of the Response of Human Endothelial Colony-forming Cells

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Exploring cellular contact guidance using gradient nanogratings.

Jirun Sun¹, Yifu Ding, Nancy J Lin

¹American Dental Association Foundation, Paffenbarger Research Center, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8546, United States, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0427, United States, and Polymers Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8543, United States.

Biomacromolecules

|October 20, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed novel nanopatterned surfaces to control cell alignment, separating topography and chemistry effects. These advanced platforms offer new insights into cell contact guidance for medical devices.

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Area of Science:

Biomaterials Science
Cell Biology
Nanotechnology

Background:

Nanoscale surface features mimicking the extracellular matrix guide cell behavior.
Current nanograting platforms typically offer a single pattern height, limiting the study of geometric effects.
Understanding cell contact guidance is crucial for advanced medical device development.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop controlled substrates with varied pattern shapes and surface chemistries to differentiate topography and chemistry effects on cell contact guidance.
To examine the impact of surface topography and chemistry on murine preosteoblast alignment using novel nanograting platforms.
To investigate the transition of cell-substrate contact states with increasing pattern height.

Main Methods:

Fabrication of six nanograting platforms on three materials (polystyrene, polymethylmethacrylate, dimethacrylate) using nanoimprint and photoimprint lithography.
Utilized gradient pattern heights (0 to ≈350 nm) and varied line-and-space pitches (420 or 800 nm).
Employed focal adhesion assays and scanning electron microscopy to analyze cell alignment and cell-substrate contact.

Main Results:

Achieved a full spectrum of cell alignment, from random to parallel to the grating direction.
Observed a transition in cell-substrate contact from full contact to partial contact as pattern height increased.
Demonstrated the ability to separate surface chemistry and topography effects on cell contact guidance.

Conclusions:

Gradient nanograting platforms enable the differentiation of surface topography and chemistry influences on cell contact guidance.
The findings provide crucial insights into the mechanisms governing cell alignment on nanopatterned surfaces.
This strategy facilitates the design of advanced medical devices with controlled cellular responses.