A simple lift-off-based patterning method for micro- and nanostructuring of functional substrates for cell culture

Abstract

The ability to produce cell patterning through precise surface engineering has stimulated the development of cellular bioassays that offer new insights on the mechanisms of cell adhesion, proliferation, differentiation and molecular signaling pathways. Here we describe a simple micropatterning technique combining supersonic cluster beam deposition of nanostructured titania films on bovine serum albumin functionalized substrates. A standard lift-off process enables us to generate complementary micropatterns of hydrophobic bovine serum albumin (cell-repellent) and hydrophilic nanostructured TiO x (cell-adhesive). We demonstrate the selective PC12 cell adhesion and growth on biocompatible nanostructured TiO x . We also observed that these functional micropatterned substrates promote a considerable enhancement of cell attachment and proliferation.

Micro‐nanopatterning as tool to study the role of physicochemical properties on cell–surface interactions

“…In the last few years, methods for the fabrication of nanoscale controlled topographies have been developed utilizing lithographic and etching techniques derived from the silicon microelectronics industry and can now be used to tailor surface chemistry and surface topography to elucidate how cells respond to nanotopography. This has immensely augmented the process to tailor the surface chemistry and surface topography to elucidate the cellular behavior—importantly, cell adhesion (including bacterial), activation, and differentiation fate . Micro‐ and nano‐engineered tools and techniques have played a critical role in discovering binding interactions between the cells and their supporting environment to explore how cells respond to nanostructures, but more work is needed to comprehend the mechanisms underlying cell responses.…”

Three‐dimensional patterning in biomedicine: Importance and applications in neuropharmacology

“…This was observed when cells were allowed to grow on substrates with different surface roughness (12–80 nm) . Table represents a comprehensive list of major 3D patterning technique used for patterning in neuropharmacological applications …”

“…However, the CNS has very minimal fibrillar matrix and collagen in ECM compositions, rendering it difficult to extrapolate the results from an in vivo perspective. Nanotemplate material fabrications, bottom–up nanoengineering, and physicochemical modulations of the neuronal culture environment provide new opportunities for neuropharmacology . For example, self‐assembled bioactive peptides derived from laminin when electrospun as nanofiber scaffolds provide long‐term survival of neuronal progenitors, which differentiate into neurons and astrocytes.…”

Microsystem for Real Time High Resolution Measurement of Cell Forces

“…A number of microfabrication techniques in combination with self-assembled monolayer (SAM) depositions are currently used to produce patterned functional surfaces intended for the analysis of interactions between cells and a variety of substrates. As an example, a lift-off based patterning method to enhance the cell attachment on biocompatible nanostructured TiO x films using hydrophobic bovine serum albumin as a cell repellent has recently been demonstrated [18]. Earlier experiments in our work utilized this protein as an inhibitor together with fibronectin, a glycoprotein that promotes the cell adhesion.…”