Laser microfabricated model surfaces for controlled cell growth

Abstract The relatively recent applications of microelectronics technology into the biological sciences arena has drastically revolutionized the field. New foreseeable applications include miniaturized, multiparametric biosensors for high performance multianalyte assays or DNA sequencing, biocomputers, and substrates for controlled cell growth (i.e. tissue engineering). The objectives of this work were to investigate a new method combining microphotolithographical techniques with laser excimer beam technology to create surfaces with well defined 3-D microdomains in order to delineate critical microscopic surface features governing material–cell interaction. Another obvious application of this study pertains to the fabrication of cell-based biosensors. Microfabricated surfaces were obtained with micron resolution, by ‘microsculpturing’ polymer model surfaces using a laser excimer KrF beam coupled with a microlithographic projection technique. The laser beam after exiting a mask was focused onto the polymer target surface via an optical setup allowing for a 10-fold reduction of the mask pattern. Various 3-D micropatterned features were obtained at the micron level. Reproducible submicron features could also be obtained using this method. Subsequently, model osteoblast-like cells were plated onto the laser microfabricated surfaces in order to study the effects of particular surface microtopography on preferential cell deposition and orientation. Preferential cell deposition was observed on surfaces presenting ‘smooth’ microtopographical transitions. This system may provide an interesting model for further insights into correlations between 3-D surface microtopography and cell response with new applications in the field biosensor, biomaterial and pharmaceutical engineering sciences (e.g. new cell based biosensors, controlled synthesis of immobilized cell derived active ingredients).