Reactions of cells to topography

Though contact guidance has been known since the very early days of cell culture very little quantitative examination of the reaction of cells to topography has been made. Exceptions to this subjective approach are given prominence below. Yet if we are to understand how cells react and if we are to be able to design ideal substrata for particular cells we need this information. Precision and quantitation are required both of the methods of examination of the cells but also in the definition of that topography. Recently it has become clear that the these reactions occur at the nanometric scale and have importance for use in cellular engineering and tissue repair. Topography appears to provide a set of very powerful signals for cells.