Tuning InAs Nanowire Density for HEK293 Cell Viability, Adhesion, and Morphology: Perspectives for Nanowire-Based Biosensors

Abstract

Arrays of nanowires (NWs) are currently being established as vehicles for molecule delivery and electrical- and fluorescence-based platforms in the development of biosensors. It is conceivable that NW-based biosensors can be optimized through increased understanding of how the nanotopography influences the interfaced biological material. Using state-of-the-art homogenous NW arrays allow for a systematic investigation of how the broad range of NW densities used by the community influences cells. Here it is demonstrated that indium arsenide NW arrays provide a cell-promoting surface, which affects both cell division and focal adhesion up-regulation. Furthermore, a systematic variation in NW spacing affects both the detailed cell morphology and adhesion properties, where the latter can be predicted based on changes in free-energy states using the proposed theoretical model. As the NW density influences cellular parameters, such as cell size and adhesion tightness, it will be important to take NW density into consideration in the continued development of NW-based platforms for cellular applications, such as molecule delivery and electrical measurements.

Cytotoxicity of ZnO Nanowire Arrays on Excitable Cells

“…Additionally, the cell adhesion could be reduced due to the topography of ZnO nanowire arrays, resulting in the inhibitory effects [31]. Cell adhesion on nanowire arrays is highly dependent on the density and spacing of the nanowires [32]. The high density of nanowires and plentiful spacing (Figure 1b) could result in insufficient planar surface and binding sites for focal adhesion, leading to reduced cell adhesion [29,32].…”

High‐Aspect‐Ratio Nanostructured Surfaces as Biological Metamaterials

“…Models broadly consist of continuum type, where the membrane is treated like a continuous sheet that can be characterized by key parameters such as tension or stiffness; or molecular‐based simulations, which attempt to simulate the interactions between constituent molecules directly. Elastic theory models, as first proposed by Helfrich, consider the balance of forces or free‐energy at the cell–substrate interface . These have the benefit of rapidly showing an ensemble response, at the expense of the role of complex molecular interactions on membrane disruption .…”

Tunable high aspect ratio polymer nanostructures for cell interfaces

“…* In these systems, regular or randomly arranged nanostructures protrude vertically from a flat substrate. The geometry of the nanostructures allow them to form a cellular interface with a nanoscale cross-section (typically around 100 nm), while simultaneously protruding into the cell body, although the details of this interface is still an area of active research [8][9][10] . Biological use of high aspect ratio nanostructures has led to several novel applications, including electri-cal interrogation of neurons [11][12][13] , single-cell force measurements 14 , cell motility control [15][16][17] , induction of stem cell differentiation 18 , assessing differential cell response 19 , cell capture 20,21 and nanostructure-aided delivery of various functional molecules 8,[22][23][24][25] .…”