Laser microfabricated polymer surfaces: effect of microtopography on cell growth

The relatively recent introduction of microelectronics technology into the area of biological sciences 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 new methods combining microphotolithographical techniques with high energy KrF excimer laser beam technology to create surfaces with well defined 3-D microdomains in order to delineate critical microscopic topographical surface features that are relevant in governing material-cell interaction. Another obvious application of this study pertains to the fabrication of cell-based biosensors. Reproducible submicron features could also be obtained using this method. Subsequently, model osteoblast-like cells plated onto the laser modified surfaces showed preferential cell deposition 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 of biosensor, biomaterial and pharmaceutical engineering sciences (e.g. new cell based biosensors, controlled synthesis of immobilized cell derived active ingredients).