Spiral and square microstructured surfaces: the effect of the decreasing size of photo-immobilised hyaluronan domains on cell growth

Abstract Spiral and squared micropatterned surfaces of decreasing dimensions were realized by photo-immobilizing a photoreactive hyaluronan (Hyal) derivative on silanized glass substrates. The microstructured surfaces were observed by atomic force microscope and scanning electron microscope. Scanning electron microscope analysis revealed the presence of a spiral (ranging from 100 microm down to 1 microm in the central part) and a square pattern consisting of a central square of 100 microm x 100 microm and squares of different dimensions decreasing from the centre to the edges of the micropatterned area (2 microm x 1 microm). Three cell types were tested on all the microstructured surfaces: human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC), human dermal fibroblasts (C54), and NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. Cell adhesion analysis demonstrated that HCAEC and C54 did not adhere to the immobilized Hyal on silanized glass but adapted their shape to the different sizes of the square and spiral patterns. Also, in both geometric patterns, the reduction of the adhesive glass width induced C54 to create bonds amongst themselves. NIH 3T3 cells adhered inside the squares and the spiral but reducing the adhesive glass width induced NIH 3T3 to adhere to immobilized Hyal. This fact is explained by the interactions between the cells and the immobilized Hyal as a consequence of the CD44/Hyal binding.