IUVSTA 15th International Vacuum Congress (IVC-15), AVS 48th International Symposium (AVS-48), 11th International Conference on Solid Surfaces (ICSS-11)
    Biomaterials Thursday Sessions
       Session BI-ThP

Paper BI-ThP10
Human Foreskin Fibroblast Cell Studies on Micropatterned Substrates Created by Selective Molecular Assembly Patterning

Thursday, November 1, 2001, 5:30 pm, Room 134/135

Session: Biomolecule and Cell Poster Session
Presenter: J.W. Lussi, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland
Authors: J.W. Lussi, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland
R. Michel, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland
A. Goessl, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland
M. Textor, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland
J.A Hubbell, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland
Correspondent: Click to Email
A novel patterning technique, termed "Selective Molecular Assembly Patterning" (SMAP), was used to produce cell-adhesive patches on a cell-resistant background. The method is based on selective adsorption of alkane phosphates to titanium oxide, but not silicon oxide surfaces. Using standard photolithographic techniques patterns of titanium oxide within a matrix of silicon oxide were created. A self-assembled monolayer of dodecyl phosphate (DDP) formed on the titanium oxide, while poly(-L-lysine)-poly(ethylene glycol) graft copolymer (PLL-PEG) subsequently rendered the silicon oxide matrix resistant to cell adhesion. A combination of phase contrast and fluorescent microscopy was used to examine the spreading of human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) cells seeded on the patterned substrates. Unstained cells, as well as cells stained for cytoskeletal f-actin and the focal adhesion protein vinculin, were examined. HFFs adhered only to the DDP-coated TiO2 patches, clearly recognizing the substrate pattern. The PLL-PEG coated SiO2 matrix remained completely resistant to cell adhesion in fetal bovine serum containing medium for more than 5 days. Cell surface contacts were observed on DDP-coated TiO2 patches and stress fibers traversed patterned features. Cell shape on patterned substrates differed significantly from HFF cultured on homogenously cell-adhesive substrates. Cells exhibited more angular shapes imposed by the square symmetry of the oxide pattern. Cell extensions frequently bridged several features without establishing contacts to the background surface. These cell experiments conclusively demonstrate the usefulness of this patterning method for studying cell adhesion on patterned surfaces.