| AVS 55th International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Biomaterial Interfaces | Tuesday Sessions |
| Session BI-TuP |
| Session: | Biomaterials Interfaces Poster Session with Focus on Cells and Proteins at Interfaces |
| Presenter: | W.M. Theilacker, University of Delaware |
| Authors: | W.M. Theilacker, University of Delaware A.L. Styer, University of Delaware H.P. Bui, University of Delaware D.E. Willis, Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children J.L. Twiss, Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children T.P. Beebe, Jr., University of Delaware |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Cellular preference for extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins was assayed on patterned surfaces presenting two ECM proteins that compete for cell attachment and proliferation. Microcontact printing techniques were used to modify silicon substrates with alternating 40-um-wide stripes of the ECM proteins fibronectin and laminin. The spatial distribution of both proteins on the patterned surfaces was measured by epi-fluorescence and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). Attachment and outgrowth of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons and neuron-like pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells on striped substrates were analyzed up to 4 days. At each time point, three patterned samples were fixed and immunostained prior to fluorescence imaging. Images were analyzed for the number of cells attached to each protein region and the number and length of neurite extensions. Results indicate for PC12 cells, an approximately equal number of cells on fibronectin and laminin stripes after 24 hours in cell culture. However, from 48 hours to 96 hours, the number of cells on laminin versus fibronectin continually increased. By 96 hours, 80 percent of the PC12 cells were attached to laminin versus fibronectin. Preliminary results for DRG neurons suggest a similar trend, in addition to the influence of Schwann cells, which are known to influence DRG neurite outgrowth.