Effects of micropatterned surfaces coated with type I collagen on the orientation and growth of tenocytes / 生物医学工程学杂志

ABSTRACT

It is crucial to improve the orientation and growth of cells on substrates in tissue engineering. In this study, we investigated the effects of micropatterned surfaces coated with type I collagen (CNI) on the orientation and growth of SD rat tenocytes. Using the technique of microcontact printing and microfluidic channels, we prepared micropatterned microgrooves with a 10 microm width and 4 microm depth on silicone membrane substrates. The microgrooves were coated with CNI at concentrations 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, and 1.25 mg/ml, respectively. The rat tenocytes at 1 x 10(5)/ml were seeded onto the CNI-coated substrates and the control substrates (without CNI coating), and then cultured in a humidified 37 degrees C/5% CO2 incubator for 48 hours. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT method. After 1, 12, 24, 48 hrs of incubation, the tenocytes' alignment and morphology were observed by means of inverted phase microscope, scanning electron microscope and fluorescent microscope. The results showed there was obvious orientation of tenocytes in CNI-modified grooves, and most of the tenocytes spread along the grooves. The tenocyte orientation became more obvious with the increasing CNI concentration over a range from 0.25 to 1.25 mg/ml. This method could find important application in the construct of engineered tendons which need precise spatial organization of cells.