Surface topography can interfere with epithelial tissue migration

Abstract

Corneal epithelial tissue migration over the surface of a synthetic polymer can be inhibited by pores in the substrate. The effects of this substrate topography upon epithelial tissue migration were studied in vitro. Membranes of different porosities and structures were used to provide two series of surfaces having a graded increase in discontinuities: cellulose nitrate/acetate membranes with a tortuous network of pores, and track-etched polycarbonate membranes with columnar pores. Corneal epithelial tissue outgrowth was inhibited by increased pore size, and for both series of membranes, outgrowth was completely halted on membranes with mean diameter of the pores 0.9 microm at the pore densities measured. On the track-etched membranes with pores of <0.9 microm diameter, tissue outgrowth could be partially "rescued" by coating with fibronectin or collagen, but above this size, the inhibition predominated. The effect of porosity of the track-etched membranes upon the migration of dissociated epithelial cells was also examined. Although migration of these cells was reduced on membranes having pore sizes larger than 0.9 microm, it was not completely inhibited even on membranes of 2.3-microm pore diameter. Therefore, tissue movement of adult stratified epithelium may be inhibited by specific surface topographies, and in this assay system, epithelial tissue outgrowth was more affected than was the migration of dissociated epithelial cells.

Successful Periodontal Ligament Regeneration by Periodontal Progenitor Preseeding on Natural Tooth Root Surfaces

“…Substantial effects of substrate surface topography on cell shape, adhesion, and cell behavior have been reported in earlier studies [24][25][26]. The present findings indicate that the natural root surface topography appears to present a unique trigger for perpendicular cell elongation, ideally suited for periodontal fiber regeneration.…”

Corneal epithelial cell growth over tethered‐protein/peptide surface‐modified hydrogels

“…12 Years of protein deposition studies have revealed that it is not only the type of protein at the surface that is important for good cellular response but also the conformation of the protein and the ability of the cell to interact with it. [13][14][15][16][17][18] Extensive research on the cellular response to different proteins preadsorbed onto various surfaces, including collagen, 19,20 laminin, [21][22][23] vitronectin, 24,25 fibronectin, 14,26 and albumin, 27 indicate that synthetic materials must adsorb proteins in a relatively native conformation to improve their interaction with cells. 28 -30 If this can be accomplished, the material surface may interact with adhering cells in a manner similar to that of the native extracellular matrix.…”

Substrate microtopography can enhance cell adhesive and migratory responsiveness to matrix ligand density

“…To that end, studies have used the matrix microstructure or nanostructure as key parameter to exercise precise control over cellular processes such as adhesion, migration, and function. [8][9][10][11][12][13] Recent mechanistic investigations suggest that substrate microtopography can alter the establishment and organization of cell membrane based focal adhesion complexes 14 and can thereby invoke specific signaling pathways which may regulate cellular phenotype and function. [15][16][17][18] Other studies have shown that the size of micropores on polymeric substrates can sensitively direct tissue epithelialization and migration upon polymer implantation.…”