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Updated: May 15, 2026
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Large-area Scanning Probe Nanolithography Facilitated by Automated Alignment and Its Application to Substrate Fabrication for Cell Culture Studies
Published on: June 12, 2018
Mapping the complex morphology of cell interactions with nanowire substrates using FIB-SEM
Rafał Wierzbicki1, Carsten Købler, Mikkel R B Jensen
1DTU Nanotech, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark.
Plos One
|January 18, 2013
Summary
High-resolution microscopy reveals diverse fibroblast cell interactions with nanostructured scaffolds. Cells exhibit varied responses, including nanowire breakage and engulfment, highlighting the need for nanoscale imaging to understand cell-nanostructure dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Cell Biology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Understanding cell-nanostructure interactions is crucial for designing advanced biomaterials and nanodevices.
- Previous studies often lack the resolution to capture the intricate details of these interactions.
- Fibroblast cells (3T3) are commonly used models for studying cellular responses to surfaces.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the detailed interactions between 3T3 fibroblast cells and silicon black nanostructured scaffolds (Nanograss) using high-resolution imaging.
- To characterize the variability in cellular responses to nanostructures.
- To develop a framework for understanding and categorizing cell-nanostructure interactions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized high-resolution focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) with serial block face imaging.
- Cultured 3T3 fibroblast monolayers on flat glass (control) and two types of Nanograss substrates (low and high nanowire density).
- Optimized sample preparation, image acquisition, and post-processing for cellular monolayers on nanostructured substrates.
Main Results:
- Observed a wide range of cell-nanostructure interactions, varying significantly between cells on the same substrate.
- Documented specific interactions such as nanowire breakage, engulfment, flattening, and cells residing on top of nanowires.
- Created an overview map categorizing observed interaction modes.
Conclusions:
- Detailed nanoscale resolution is essential for understanding the complex and variable interactions between individual cells and nanostructured substrates.
- The developed interaction map serves as a framework for future light microscopy studies.
- Cellular responses are highly dependent on both substrate morphology and individual cell phenotype.
