A novel approach for toxicity sensing using hepatocytes on a collagen-patterned plate

Abstract This paper shows a hepatocyte culture on finely patterned plates by collagen as a novel approach for toxicity sensing. Collagen, which is a substratum, is patterned by a photolithography method. Patterned collagen has the inherent activity of adhering hepatocytes in spread shape. Almost all hepatocytes adhered are observed on the patterned collagen, namely, hepatocyte adhesion location control is achieved on the collagen-patterned plate. Hepatocyte morphology is also controlled in an elongated shape on a plate with collagen stripes. These results provide the possibility of achieving a toxicity sensing device, based on cultured hepatocytes.