The success of many emerging biotechnologies depends upon the ability to tune cell function to mimic conditions found in vivo. Cells exhibit complex interactions with their surrounding environment known and the extracellular matrix (ECM). These interactions control many cell functions such as proliferation, differentiation and cell death. ECM components span the meso-, micro- and nano-length scales. Successful biotechnologies therefore must also exhibit patterning over these length scales.
The objective of this study is to fabricate and analyze cell response to micro and nanopatterned polymer substrates. Experiments examined cell alignment and proliferation to various substrates. The substrates used featured micropatterned grooves and holes, micropatterned carbon nanotubes, and combinations of microgrooves and nanogrooves. Results showed significant interactions between cell alignment and the patterned topography for all substrate types, while cell proliferation showed no significant dependence on these topographic parameters.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:GATECH/oai:smartech.gatech.edu:1853/14539 |
| Date | 09 April 2007 |
| Creators | Eliason, Marcus Todd |
| Publisher | Georgia Institute of Technology |
| Source Sets | Georgia Tech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Archive |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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