Cell interaction with microtextured surfaces

The effect of defined surface microgeometry on connective tissue cell colony density, cell attachment area and cell shape was investigated. Rat tendon fibroblast (RTF) cells were grown as stock cultures from hindfoot extensors tendons from 14-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats. Cell colonies were grown on these surfaces using a `dot' culture model similar to explant culture models. Light microscopy and image analysis methods were used to measure rate and direction of growth as well as cell density, cell attachment area, cell orientation and cell elongation. The microgrooved surfaces reduced cell colony growth and cell spreading, increased cell eccentricity and effectively oriented the cells parallel to the surface.