Effects of a grooved epoxy substratum on epithelial cell behavior in vitro and in vivo

The effects of grooved epoxy substrata on epithelial (E) cell behavior were studied in vitro and in vivo. V-shaped grooves, 10 microns deep, were produced in silicon wafers by micromachining, a process which was developed for the fabrication of microelectronic components. The grooved substrata were replicated in epoxy resin. More E cells attached to grooved surfaces than to adjacent smooth surfaces. Clusters of E cells were markedly oriented by the grooved surfaces in comparison to the adjacent smooth surfaces where the orientation was random. Grooved and smooth epoxy implants were placed percutaneously in the parietal area of rats. One week after implantation E cells were found to adhere tightly to the implant surfaces. In the grooved portion of the implant E cells interdigitated into the grooves and had rounded nuclei. Histomorphometric measurements indicated that there was a shorter length of epithelial attachment and a longer length of connective tissue attachment in the grooved, compared to the smooth, portion of implants. After 10 days the epithelial attachment had migrated down the length of the protruding smooth portion of the implant and was located on the base of the implant. However, epithelium remained attached to the grooved portion of the implant. These observations indicate that grooved surfaces have the potential to impede epithelial downgrowth on percutaneous devices.