eCM (Eur Cell Mater / e Cells & Materials) eCM Open Access Scientific Journal
 ISSN:1473-2262         NLM:100973416 (link)         DOI:10.22203/eCM

2010   Volume No 20 – pages 329-343

Title: The influence of nanoscale topographical cues on initial osteoblast morphology and migration

Author: E Lamers, R van Horssen, J te Riet, FCMJM van Delft, R Luttge, XF Walboomers, JA Jansen

Address: Department of Biomaterials, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre 309 PB, PO Box 9101, 6500HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands

E-mail: j.jansen at dent.umcn.nl

Key Words: Tissue-material interactions, time-lapse imaging, osteoblasts, cell motility, cell adhesion, nanotopography, surface texturing.

Publication date: November 9th 2010

Abstract: The natural environment of a living cell is not only organized on a micrometer, but also on a nanometer scale. Mimicking such a nanoscale topography in implantable biomaterials is critical to guide cellular behavior. Also, a correct positioning of cells on biomaterials is supposed to be very important for promoting wound healing and tissue regeneration. The exact mechanism by which nanotextures can control cellular behavior are thus far not well understood and it is thus far unknown how cells recognize and respond to certain surface patterns, whereas a directed response appears to be absent on other pattern types. Focal adhesions (FAs) are known to be involved in the process of specific pattern recognition and subsequent response by cells. In this study, we used a high throughput screening “Biochip” containing 40 different nanopatterns to evaluate the influence of several nanotopographical cues like depth, width, (an)isotropy and spacing (ridge-groove ratio) on osteoblast behavior. Microscopical analysis and time lapse imaging revealed that an isotropic topography did not alter cell morphology, but it highly induced cell motility. Cells cultured on anisotropic topographies on the other hand, were highly elongated and aligned. Time-lapse imaging revealed that cell motility is highly dependent on the ridge-groove ratio of anisotropic patterns. The highest motility was observed on grooves with a ratio of 1:3, whereas the lowest motility was observed on ratios of 1:1 and 3:1. FA measurements demonstrated that FA-length decreased with increasing motility. From the study it can be concluded that osteoblast behavior is tightly controlled by nanometer surface features.

Article download: Pages 329-343 (PDF file)
DOI: 10.22203/eCM.v020a27

Supplementary files: Movie-1; Movie-2; Movie-3