Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2017, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (14): 2291-2296.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2017.14.026

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Application of micro-scale technologies in engineering cell geometry and alignment

Liu Xiao-yi 1, 2, Li Shan 1, 2, Zhao Feng1, He Jing-wen1, Sun Yan 1, 2   

  1. 1 Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China; 2 State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
  • Received:2017-04-01 Online:2017-05-18 Published:2017-06-10
  • Contact: Sun Yan, M.D., Master’s supervisor, Associate professor, Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China; State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
  • About author:Liu Xiao-yi, Studying for master’s degree, Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China; State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
  • Supported by:

    the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 31470942

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: It is of great significance for the research of cell biology, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine to precisely control cell geometry and alignment in vitro. However, there is a lack of systematic study and description of the methods for controlling cell geometry and inducing alignment in vitro.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the methods of surface chemical treatment technology and surface topographical technology to prepare the substrate for cell growth and to discuss the feasibility and the latest progress in cell shape control and cell alignment.
METHODS: The author performed a data retrieval of PubMed and Bailianyun databases from 1995 to 2017 to search the articles addressing the effects of micro-scale technologies on cell geometry and alignment in vitro, and reviewed the literatures systematically.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: With the development of micro-scale technologies and in-depth study on cell behaviors, surface chemical treatment, surface topographical transformation and fibrous scaffolds are gradually developed to precisely control cell geometry and alignment. The surface micropatterning, pillar and pit arrays can precisely control cell geometry, and the topographical patterning dominates cell alignment over the chemical patterns. Surface chemical treatment and topographical patterning can also be combined to preferably engineer cell alignment in vitro. The suitable substrate can be used to control cell geometry precisely, regulate the differentiation of stem cells or induce cell alignment, and promote cell fusion and differentiation.

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点:生物材料;骨生物材料; 口腔生物材料; 纳米材料; 缓释材料; 材料相容性;组织工程

Key words: Cell Biology, Cell Shape, Tissue Engineering

CLC Number: