| AVS 59th Annual International Symposium and Exhibition | |
| Biomaterial Interfaces | Wednesday Sessions |
| Session BI+SS+NS-WeM |
| Session: | Bio/Nano Interfaces with Applications in Biomedicine and Energy |
| Presenter: | D.T. Bennetsen, Aarhus University, Denmark |
| Authors: | D.T. Bennetsen, Aarhus University, Denmark D.C.E. Kraft, Aarhus University, Denmark R. Ogaki, Aarhus University, Denmark M. Foss, Aarhus University, Denmark |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
It is well known that topographical features influence cellular response. A novel combination of colloidal- and photolithography has been developed to create a dual length scale topographical platform. The presented approach permits rapid parallel fabrication of micro/nanoscale patterns. The aim is to study the response of primary human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSC) to such topographies in a systematic way.
Colloidal lithography is performed using the “lift-off” method, which is applicable to surfaces with a non-flat surface. This enables the combination of using photolithography pre-made wafers as substrates, resulting in a complex topographical structure, spanning two length scales (Figure 1). Topographical patterns are created using the colloidal mask with either evaporation or sputtering via physical vapor deposition (PVD). The principle combination of materials investigated is tantalum covered with tantalum features. These dual scale substrates are exposed to hDPSC and proliferation, attachment and differentiation are examined. Differentiation is examined using osteogenic markers and MyoD1 expression.
Initial cell proliferation data indicates that variations in the colloidal pattern heights do not seem to elicit a statistical significant response (Figure 2). A set of experiments to clarify the effect of the colloidal pattern on the proliferation and cell cycle of the hDPSC is thus currently being performed. Furthermore, the effect of the dual scale topographical substrates on proliferation, differentiation and cell cycle is also being explored.
Concurrently we are investigating the combined effects of topographical/chemical patterns on cellular response. This can be achieved by depositing different materials site-specifically, followed by a material-specific self-assembly route. E.g. silanes and thiols with specific chemical moieties on oxides and gold, respectively. Characterization is performed using atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS).
Our fabrication approach enables the opportunity to increase the complexity of artificial 2D platforms thus by gaining a better understanding of cellular behavior for a range of biomedical and biotechnological applications.