Nano-patterned SU-8 surface using nanosphere-lithography for enhanced neuronal cell growth

Nanotechnology. 2016 Apr 29;27(17):175303. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/27/17/175303. Epub 2016 Mar 17.

Abstract

Mimicking the nanoscale surface texture of the extracellular matrix can affect the regulation of cellular behavior, including adhesion, differentiation, and neurite outgrowth. In this study, SU-8-based polymer surfaces with well-ordered nanowell arrays were fabricated using nanosphere lithography with polystyrene nanoparticles. We show that the SU-8 surface with nanowells resulted in similar neuronal development of rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells compared with an unpatterned poly-L-lysine (PLL)-coated SU-8 surface. Additionally, even after soaking the substrate in cell culture medium for two weeks, cells on the nanowell SU-8 surface showed long-term neurite outgrowth compared to cells on the PLL-coated SU-8 surface. The topographical surface modification of the nanowell array demonstrates potential as a replacement for cell adhesive material coatings such as PLL, for applications requiring long-term use of polymer-based implantable devices.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion / drug effects
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Epoxy Compounds / chemistry*
  • Epoxy Compounds / pharmacology
  • Nanospheres / chemistry*
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • PC12 Cells
  • Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / genetics
  • Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / metabolism
  • Polylysine / chemistry
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Polymers / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Receptor, trkA / genetics
  • Receptor, trkA / metabolism
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Epoxy Compounds
  • Polymers
  • SU-8 compound
  • Polylysine
  • Receptor, trkA
  • Phosphopyruvate Hydratase