Human foetal osteoblastic cell response to polymer-demixed nanotopographic interfaces

Abstract

Nanoscale cell-substratum interactions are of significant interest in various biomedical applications. We investigated human foetal osteoblastic cell response to randomly distributed nanoisland topography with varying heights (11, 38 and 85 nm) produced by a polystyrene (PS)/polybromostyrene polymer-demixing technique. Cells displayed islandconforming lamellipodia spreading, and filopodia projections appeared to play a role in sensing the nanotopography. Cells cultured on 11 nm high islands displayed significantly enhanced cell spreading and larger cell dimensions than cells on larger nanoislands or flat PS control, on which cells often displayed a stellate shape. Development of signal transmitting structures such as focal adhesive vinculin protein and cytoskeletal actin stress fibres was more pronounced, as was their colocalization, in cells cultured on smaller nanoisland surfaces. Cell adhesion and proliferation were greater with decreasing island height. Alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity, an early stage marker of bone cell differentiation, also exhibited nanotopography dependence, i.e. higher AP activity on 11 nm islands compared with that on larger islands or flat PS. Therefore, randomly distributed island topography with varying nanoscale heights not only affect adhesion-related cell behaviour but also bone cell phenotype. Our results suggest that modulation of nanoscale topography may be exploited to control cell function at cell-biomaterial interfaces.

Osteogenic activity of titanium surfaces with nanonetwork structures

“…The role of filopodia in sensing nanoscale topography was recently demonstrated on the 11 nm high islands. 38,39 Our results provide additional evidence of this phenomenon. For cells with a surface roughness of 13 nm on surfaces treated with 10.0 M NaOH, SEM images revealed that cells had more filopodia after a short time of culture ( Figure 6A-C).…”

Label-free, microfluidic separation and enrichment of human breast cancer cells by adhesion difference

“…According to recent studies, [19][20][21] cell adhesions are significantly affected by surface chemical composition and nanotopography. More specifically, the cell adhesion could be increased or decreased depending on the material and geometry used to construct the surface structure.…”

“…[12][13][14][15] It is noted in this regard that the cell adhesion is also modified on a nanostructured surface without specific proteins; it could be increased or decreased depending on the material and geometry used to construct the surface structure. [19][20][21] Recently, extensive efforts have been made to understand/control cell adhesions on various surface nanostructures using conventional or unconventional lithographic techniques. [22][23][24][25] A microfluidic system is advantageous for analysis of cell adhesion in various aspects because of small sample consumption, use of multiple parameters, and generation of large shear stress.…”

Controlling Protein Adsorption through Nanostructured Polymeric Surfaces

“…[53][54][55] The cellular response to the surface nanotopography and its correlation to the surface-bound proteins have been highlighted by Lim et al who showed that cell adhesion was unaffected by surface nanotopography if performed in the absence of serum. [56] This was a very important finding which allowed speculations that implant surfaces should be designed not for cells but more prominently for proteins as primary targets.…”