Activation of macrophage-like cells by multiple grooved substrata. Topographical control of cell behaviour (original) (raw)

Effect of substratum morphology on cell behavior

Contact guidance induced by the surface topography of the substrata influences the direction of cells with artificial material. Mouse bone marrow stromal fibroblast was examined on grooved substrata of varying dimension (0.3 m~1.2 m groove width, 0.5 m depth and 0.5 m ridge). It was found that the repeat space had an effect in determining cell alignment. Measurement of cell alignment and examination by scanning electron microscopy showed the fibroblast interacted grooved substrata in monomodal responses and alignment to the direction of the grating.

Modulation of macrophage phenotype by cell shape

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2013

Significance Macrophages are central regulators of the immune response during infection and wound healing, and their behavior is largely thought to be regulated by soluble factors in the microenvironment. Here, we find that adhesive cues are also critical for regulating the proinflammatory vs. prohealing state of these cells. We use engineered cell culture substrates to control cell shape and find that elongation of cells promotes a prohealing phenotype. Moreover, we identify key molecular pathways that are responsible for transducing physical cues to the biochemical cues that govern this response. Together, these studies suggest an important role for cell shape in regulating macrophage function.

Influence of substrate topography and materials on behaviour of biological cells

2013

A cell's interaction with its extracellular environment is critical to tissue structure and function. This work investigates the effect of substrate topography on selective cell adhesion and morphology. Alterations in cell response to micro- and nanoscale signals and cues can cause changes in downstream functions of proteins and complexes such as invasive and metastatic motility of malignant tumour cells and the differentiation direction of stem cells. Biomaterial surfaces can be modified to provide different chemical and topographical cues and encourage controlled cell-substrate interaction. At the protein level, template substrates have shown and increased affinity for selective binding of the imprinted antigen or antibody. Topography of a cell's microenvironment may be replicated as a permanent polymer mould by bioimprinting technology, which was developed at University of Canterbury. The resulting high resolution methacrylate polymer samples have been used for imaging an...