Modulation of Mammalian Cell Behavior by Nanoporous Glass

Abstract

The introduction of novel bioactive materials to manipulate living cell behavior is a crucial topic for biomedical research and tissue engineering. Biomaterials or surface patterns that boost specific cell functions can enable innovative new products in cell culture and diagnostics. This study investigates the influence of the intrinsically nano‐patterned surface of nanoporous glass membranes on the behavior of mammalian cells. Three different cell lines and primary human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) proliferate readily on nanoporous glass membranes with mean pore sizes between 10 and 124 nm. In both proliferation and mRNA expression experiments, L929 fibroblasts show a distinct trend toward mean pore sizes >80 nm. For primary hMSCs, excellent proliferation is observed on all nanoporous surfaces. hMSCs on samples with 17 nm pore size display increased expression of COL10, COL2A1, and SOX9, especially during the first two weeks of culture. In the upside down culture, SK‐MEL‐28 cells on nanoporous glass resist the gravitational force and proliferate well in contrast to cells on flat references. The effect of paclitaxel treatment of MDA‐MB‐321 breast cancer cells is already visible after 48 h on nanoporous membranes and strongly pronounced in comparison to reference samples, underlining the material's potential for functional drug screening.

Response of mesenchymal stem cells to surface topography of scaffolds and the underlying mechanisms

“…70 Similarly, cells proliferate faster on nanopores with pore sizes of 10 nm and 20 nm than those on smooth surfaces. 71 However, the honeycomb structures constructed by Ramaswamy et al harm cell proliferation compared with the control group. 72…”

FluidFM-Based Fabrication of Nanopatterns: Promising Surfaces for Platelet Storage Application

“…18 Emmert et al recently showed that nanoporous glass with a mean pore size of around 80 nm may be considered as macroscopically flat but serves in modulating the gene expression and thereby influences cellular processes in primary human mesenchymal stem cells, which are much larger than platelets. 19 Wang et al engineered nanogratings and -pillars to investigate the spreading and organization of focal adhesions in human lung fibroblast cells. 20 They found that the discrete topography of nanopillars tended to disrupt the formation and growth of focal adhesions.…”

“…Lenhert et al have shown the alignment of osteoblasts and germinating fungal spores on nanostructured surfaces with a groove depth down to 100 nm . Emmert et al recently showed that nanoporous glass with a mean pore size of around 80 nm may be considered as macroscopically flat but serves in modulating the gene expression and thereby influences cellular processes in primary human mesenchymal stem cells, which are much larger than platelets . Wang et al engineered nanogratings and -pillars to investigate the spreading and organization of focal adhesions in human lung fibroblast cells .…”