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Updated: Jan 4, 2026
A Versatile Method of Patterning Proteins and Cells
Published on: February 26, 2017
Topographical patterning: characteristics of current processing techniques, controllable effects on material
Ke Zhang1, Xiongfu Xiao1, Xiumei Wang2
1Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China. yubofan@buaa.edu.cn x.m.li@hotmail.com and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China.
Abstract:
Topographical patterning has recently attracted lots of attention in regulating cell fate, understanding the mechanism of cell-microenvironment interactions, and solving the great issues of regenerative medicine. The introduced patterns offer topographical cues that can affect the reconstruction of the cytoskeleton or stimulate cell membrane receptors. Numerous studies have focused on these effects on cell behavior including attachment, migration, proliferation, and differentiation. In this review, five aspects of topographical patterning are discussed: (1) the process of typical micro-/nanotechniques and their advantages and limitations; (2) the effects of patterning on the mechanical properties and surface properties of substrates; (3) the influences of micro-/nanopatterns on the behavior of mesenchymal stem cells, as well as the underlying mechanisms; (4) the application of patterns to solve the issues of targeted organs (e.g., skin, nerves, blood vessels, bones, and heart). In the end, future perspectives that would help promote the efficiency of topographical patterning are proposed.
