Directing Cell Migration with Patterned Nanostructures

To better mimic the extracellular environment for cell migration, both micro- and nano-scale topographies should be included. In this study, platforms with microtopography, nanotopography, and nanotopography on microstructures were developed and fabricated to study the cell migration behaviors. Compared to a flat surface, the nanoscale topographies such as nanopillars and nanoholes caused MC3T3 cells to move with higher migration speed and longer trajectory path with random orientation. Cells on microscale topography such as grating had lower migration speed, but more directional guidance compared to cells on nanoholes or nanopillars. To further enhance the directional guidance for cell migration, nanoscale topographies were formed in microscale arrangement. The results show that cell migration on nanoholes and nanopillars in grating arrangement had more directional guidance than gratings. Compared to cells moving on nanoholes with and without grating arrangement, cells on nanopillars had higher migration speed, longer trajectories, and more directional guidance. Platforms with nanopillars in grating arrangement could be used to control cell migration, and potentially also for cell separation and screening.