Focal adhesion dynamics-mediated cell migration and proliferation on silica bead arrays

Interactions between cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) alter cellular behaviors, including adhesion, migration, proliferation, and differentiation via focal adhesions that link the ECM to the actin cytoskeleton as an intracellular signaling pathway. Although nanomaterials with various mechanical, geometrical, and topographical features have been used to provide a variety of cell-ECM interactions, it remains unclear how their nanostructured surfaces affect cellular behavior. In this study, we investigated focal adhesion dynamics during the migration and proliferation of HeLa cells on silica bead (SB) arrays with various nanotopographies. Cell adhesion was altered according to the surface curvature and pinhole size of the SB arrays, and cell morphology was determined by the ratio of the adhesive and non-adhesive areas of cells on the SB arrays. In turn, this triggered different focal adhesion dynamics in cells. In addition, we demonstrated the rapid migration and high proliferation characteristics of rounded cells with weak adhesion based on confocal microscopy analysis and migration trajectory on SB arrays, indicating focal adhesion dynamics-mediated cell migration and proliferation on nanostructured surfaces.