Effects of substratum surface topography on the organization of cells and collagen fibers in collagen gel cultures

Abstract

This study investigated the orientation of fibroblasts and collagen cultured on microfabricated grooved or smooth titanium surfaces, as well as on tissue culture polystyrene, in the presence or absence of collagen gels. The gels were first added either to the confluent fibroblast culture on the surface (cell-gel condition) or to the fibroblasts were suspended within the collagen gel and then placed onto the surface (gel condition). Cells and collagen were observed with differential interference, polarization, and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Although the smooth surfaces had no effect on cell orientation in the gel for the first 2 weeks of culture, cells did orient with grooves regardless of the culture conditions. There was evidence for orthogonal multilayering of cells under the cell-gel condition at 4 weeks, and collagen alignment reflected cell alignment. The interaction of the collagen gel with the surface depended on whether the cell-gel or the gel condition was employed. In the former condition, the gel contracted toward the substratum, whereas the gel condition resulted in the formation of a ring of collagen loosely attached to the substratum. These results suggest that the order in which fibroblasts encounter substratum and extracellular matrix can influence the eventual matrix-cell interactions, and that substratum topography can influence matrix and cell orientation in zones not immediately in contact with the surface.

Successful Periodontal Ligament Regeneration by Periodontal Progenitor Preseeding on Natural Tooth Root Surfaces

“…Substantial effects of substrate surface topography on cell shape, adhesion, and cell behavior have been reported in earlier studies [24][25][26]. The present findings indicate that the natural root surface topography appears to present a unique trigger for perpendicular cell elongation, ideally suited for periodontal fiber regeneration.…”

Dynamic multicomponent engineered tissue reorganization and matrix deposition measured with an integrated nonlinear optical microscopy–optical coherence microscopy system

“…These strategies include magnetic forces, gel boundary conditions, substratum topology, and mechanical loading. [41][42][43][44] However, it is less clear how to ensure the development of appropriately oriented cells and collagen fibers. In the current study, this is, to our knowledge, the first visualization of collagen deposition, spatial distribution, and organization within extant fibrin matrix without staining or labeling, demonstrating NLOM-OCM ability to noninvasively and serially assess ECM development.…”

Microfluidic alignment of collagen fibers for in vitro cell culture

“…The precise spatial organization of collagen fibers in vivo determines properties such as the tensile strength in tendons (Pins, 1997;Tower, 2002) and the transparent tissue of the cornea (Connon, 2003;Newton, 1998). The molecular alignment of collagen is also believed to play a role in cell signaling and development, and has been reported to orient fibroblast cells in culture (Glass-Brudzinski, 2002;Guido, 1993). The role of collagen alignment in vivo has also been shown to be important for directing cell proliferation and migration after injury (Matsumoto, 1998).…”