Vertical Nanopillars for Biointerface: Cell Interactions with Inorganic Nanostructures

Abstract

With unique properties and access to length scales pertinent to biological activities, nanoscale structures and materials stand to make significant contributions to the investigation of cell processes. We investigated cellular interactions with vertically-aligned nanopillars of several materials, and the interface between the cells and said vertical nanopillars. Cells exhibit significantly decreased motility across a nanopillar surface as compared with a flat surface, with average movements over a five day period decreased from 57.8um to 3.0um. Additionally, scanning and transmission electron microscopy analyses show tight seals of around 10 nanometers between the cell membrane and nanopillars, in contrast with the tent-like gaps of 100nm-1um typical between cells and flat surfaces. Not only do cells fail to migrate away from nanopillar surfaces, we have also shown that the nanopillars serve to encourage attachment by cell outgrowths and stimulate the axon growth cone in neurons. As such, patterns of nanopillars serve as effective axon-guiding instruments, and can form the basis of templates for the long-term study of neural networks.