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Fidelity of micropatterned cell cultures
Author(s) -
Endler Elizabeth E.,
Nealey Paul F.,
Yin John
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1552-4965
pISSN - 1549-3296
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.a.30319
Subject(s) - materials science , cell , cell culture , monolayer , fibronectin , plating (geology) , cell adhesion , nanotechnology , biophysics , biomedical engineering , adhesion , biology , composite material , medicine , paleontology , genetics
Methods that enable the culture of micropatterned cells may help advance our fundamental understanding of cell–cell and cell–surface interactions, while facilitating the development and implementation of cell‐based biological assays. However, the long‐term stability of the cell patterns can limit the time scales over which such methods can be informative. Here we used self‐assembling monolayers (SAMs) to localize the adsorption of baby hamster kidney (BHK‐21) cells as well as cells from a murine astrocytoma‐derived cell line (delayed brain tumor) in linear arrays. We tested the effects of surface chemistries, fibronectin pre‐treatments, array dimensions, and cell types on pattern fidelity. Changes in patterns were monitored by phase‐contrast microscopy up to 96 h post‐plating, followed by digital imaging, and these changes were quantified by measuring an “intrusion distance” or the average distance cells extend beyond the initial adhesive/non‐adhesive boundary. Loss of pattern boundaries involved different mechanisms for different cells. Treatment of patterned surfaces with fibronectin prior to plating of cells tended to promote earlier loss of pattern fidelity, and the extent of pattern loss was further augmented for SAMs formed using hydrophobic monolayers. Finally, reduction of gap spacing between adjacent cell arrays promoted pattern loss. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2005