AVS 45th International Symposium
    Biomaterial Interfaces Group Monday Sessions
       Session BI-MoA

Paper BI-MoA8
Growth of Central Nervous System Cells on Microfabricated Pillars

Monday, November 2, 1998, 4:20 pm, Room 326

Session: Cell Solid-Surface Interactions
Presenter: A.M. Perez, Cornell University
Authors: A.M. Perez, Cornell University
S.W. Turner, Cornell University
N. Dowell, New York State Department of Health
L. Kam, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
J.N. Turner, New York State Department of Health
W. Shain, New York State Department of Health
R.C. Davis, Cornell University
M. Isaacson, Cornell University
H.G. Craighead, Cornell University
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We are investigating the influence of microfabricated micrometer-size surface features on the attachment and growth of mammalian central nervous system cells. Columnar surface structures have been fabricated using photolithography and reactive ion etching to create arrays with varying sizes and separations. Features 1 µm in height and 1.0 - 5.0 µm in diameter separated by 0.5 - 4.0 µm have been patterened on silicon wafers. The patterned wafers possess 50 µm wide regions of pillars surrounded by smooth silicon surfaces. Several pillared surfaces were also chemically modified with biological polymers including polylysine and conjugated laminin to study the behavior of cells on chemically treated topography. Cells used for these studies include LRM55 astroglial cells, cortical astrocytes prepared from primary cultures, and hippocampal neurons. Cell growth was characterized by scanning electron and fluorescence microscopy while focal contacts and cytoskeletal elements were determined using techniques of vinculin immunocytochemistry and actin cytochemistry, respectively. Astroglial cells preferentially attached to the pillars as opposed to the smooth surrounding surfaces while neurons attached randomly. Cell densities both on and off the pillars have been measured using optical microscopy. The cell densities and morphologies varied according to the geometric features of the columnar surfaces.