Control of the organization of cells and proteins is critical to future advances in the field of tissue engineering . Such advances in the control of the growth and proliferation of living cells will ultimately lead to cell layers that can function as tissues, which can be employed to replace or repair damaged or diseased tissue in the human body.
The technique of micropatterning, also known as the Whitesides microprinting method , was employed to organize proteins and cells on surfaces to produce a defined architecture and scaffold for the future creation of tissues. Substrate platforms are crucial to protein organization and cell physiology and proliferation. This investigation employed Au/Si micropatterned chips as well as gold, silicon, copper, and platinum substrates to assess optimal organization and biocompatibility as well as the substrate influence on protein and cell organization. A clear comparison of the extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins was examined in both starved human dermal fibroblasts (Figures 1 & 2) versus pure Fn on micropatterns. Atomic force, optical, and confocal microscopy were utilized.
Preliminary results indicate that, through the use of micropatterning, natural ECM proteins and cells can be organized effectively on Au/Si chips, Si, and Cu. Proteins change their original and natural conformation when Si domains become smaller. Mechanical data suggested that this organization change is also associated to hardness of proteins. Further, examination of cancer cell protein organization and study of differential cancer cell growth may provide implications for the future harnessing of treatment modalities.