Nano/microstructural effect of hydroxyapatite nanocrystals on hepatocyte cell aggregation and adhesion

Hepatocyte cell aggregation and adhesion to HAp nanocrystals covered with SU-8 polymer micropatterns by nano/microfabrication techniques is demonstrated. The surface roughness and wettability of the HAp nanocrystals are significantly different from those of the SU-8 polymer. QCM-D and microscopic observation clearly reveal that the cells realize the surface properties to form aggregation and preferentially adhere to the HAp nanocrystals at 2 h after seeding, indicating the importance of the microstructures as well as the interfacial phenomena at a nanometer scale.