Control of Cell Adhesion and Functions using Self-organized Honey Comb-patterned Polymer Films

The design of nanoand microstructures based on self-organization is a key area of research in the search for new biomaterials and biodevices, and such structures have a variety of potential applications in tissue engineering scaffolds and medical implants. 3D scaffolds of appropriate pore size and porosities and with interconnected pores are required to facilitate cell adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, and eventual tissue regeneration in a natural manner. We have reported the honeycomb-patterned polymer film with highly regular pores that is formed by self-organization. The honeycomb films exerted a strong influence on cell morphology, proliferation, cytoskeleton, focal adhesion, and ECM production profiles. Our studies demonstrated that the neural stem / progenitor cells morphology, proliferation, and differentiation are controlled by the pore size of the honeycomb film. It is expected that the honeycomb films will have great potentials as biomaterials for tissue regeneration in a growth factor free proliferation process of stem cells.