Abstract
Cells are the smallest living units of a human body’s structure and function, and their behaviors should not be ignored in human physiological and pathological metabolic activities. Each cell has a different scale, and presents distinct responses to specific scales: Vascular endothelial cells may obtain a normal function when regulated by the 25 µm strips, but de-function if the scale is removed; stem cells can rapidly proliferate on the 30 nm scales nanotubes surface, but stop proliferating when the scale is changed to 100 nm. Therefore, micro and nano scales play a crucial role in directing cell behaviors on biomaterials surface. In recent years, a series of biomaterials surface with micro and/or nano scales, such as micro-patterns, nanotubes and nanoparticles, have been developed to control the target cell behavior, and further enhance the surface biocompatibility. This contribution will introduce the related research, and review the advances in the micro/nano scales for biomaterials surface functionalization.
Highlights
One of the key strategies of tissue engineering is to understand how cells respond to external guidance signals from the surrounding microenvironment
Wang et al used a hybrid system of metal ion coordination polymers on the surface of titanium dioxide nanotubes (TNTs) to improve antibacterial properties [70]
The results showed that the bacterial cellulose (BC)–multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) scaffold had a higher level of osteoblast activity, adhesion, and proliferation than the conventional culture substrates
Summary
One of the key strategies of tissue engineering is to understand how cells respond to external guidance signals from the surrounding microenvironment. In addition to biological and chemical signals (such as growth factors, hormones, and small chemicals), physical cues including topography and hardness are considered to be important factors that influence cell behaviors [1,2,3]. The primary concern of this review is to emphasize the importance of different topographical scales, and their impact on related cellular behavior, including micro-patterns, nanotubes and nanoparticles (Figure 1). In order to develop materials and surfaces suitable for tissue engineering applications, it is important to understand how cells respond to topography at different length scales.
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