Effects of synthetic micro- and nano-structured surfaces on cell behavior

Topographical cues, independent of biochemistry, generated by the extracell ular matrix may have significant effects upon cellular behavior. Studies ha ve documented that substratum topography has direct effects on the ability of cells to orient themselves, migrate, and produce organized cytoskeletal arrangements. Basement membranes are composed of extracellular matrix prote ins and found throughout the vertebrate body, serving as substrata for over lying cellular structures. The topography of basement membranes is a comple x meshwork of pores, fibers, ridges, and other features of nanometer sized dimensions. Synthetic surfaces with topographical features have been shown to influence cell behavior. These facts lead to the hypothesis that the top ography of the basement membrane plays an important role in regulating cell ular behavior in a manner distinct from that of the chemistry of the baseme nt membrane. This paper describes the topography of the basement membrane a nd reviews the fabrication of synthetic micro- and nano-structured surfaces and the effects of such textured surfaces on cell behavior. (C) 1999 Elsev ier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.