Heterotypic cell-cell interaction on micropatterned surfaces

Purpose. The aim of this paper was to study the influence of chemical and topographical signals on cell behaviour and to obtain a heterotypic cell-cell interaction on microstructured domains. Methods. The polysaccharide hyaluronic acid (Hyal) was photoimmobilised on glass surfaces in order to obtain a pattern with squares and rectangles of different dimensions and chemistry. The microstructured surfaces were characterised by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The behaviour of Human Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells (HCAEC) and human tumoral dermal fibroblasts (C54) was investigated on these micropatterned surfaces by adhesion studies. Moreover heterotypic interaction among C54 and HCAEC adhered on patterned surfaces was evaluated by time-lapse video microscopy. Results. Surface analysis revealed the presence of a pattern consisting of alternating glass and Hyal microstructures whose dimensions decreased from the centre to the edge of the sample. Neither HCAEC nor C54 adhered to the immobilised Hyal but both adapted their shape to the different sizes of the glass squares and rectangles. The number of adherent cells depended on the dimensions of both the glass domains and the nuclei of the cells. Co-cultured C54 on HCAEC patterned surfaces showed a heterotypic cell-cell interaction in the same chemical and topographic domain. Conclusions. A heterotypic cell-cell interaction occurred in the same chemical and topographic micro-domains but in narrow areas only. Moreover, the number of cells adhering to the glass domains and cell morphology depended on the dimensions of both adhesive areas and cell nuclei.