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Substrate topography: a valuable in vitro tool, but a clinical red herring for in vivo tenogenesis
Date
2015
Abstract
Controlling the cellâ substrate interactions at the bio-interface is becoming an inherent element in the design of implantable devices. Modulation of cellular adhesion in vitro, through topographical cues, is a well-documented process that offers control over subsequent cellular functions. However, it is still unclear whether surface topography can be translated into a clinically functional response in vivo at the tissue/device interface. Herein, we demonstrated that anisotropic substrates with a groove depth of â ¼317 nm and â ¼1988 nm promoted human tenocyte alignment parallel to the underlying topography in vitro. However, the rigid poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) substrates used in this study upregulated the expression of chondrogenic and osteogenic genes, indicating possible tenocyte trans-differentiation. Of significant importance is that none of the topographies assessed (â ¼37 nm, â ¼317 nm and â ¼1988 nm groove depth) induced extracellular matrix orientation parallel to the substrate orientation in a rat patellar tendon model. These data indicate that two-dimensional imprinting technologies are useful tools for in vitro cell phenotype maintenance, rather than for organised neotissue formation in vivo, should multifactorial approaches that consider both surface topography and substrate rigidity be established.
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Description
peer-reviewed
Publisher
Elsevier
Citation
Acta Biomaterialia;27, pp. 3-12
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Funding Information
Enterprise Ireland (EI), Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), Health Research Board (HRB), Irish Research Council (IRC)