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First published online December 1, 2003
doi: 10.1242/10.1242/jcs.00836

Journal of Cell Science 117, 41-52 (2004)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2004
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Research Article

Cell behaviour on micropatterned substrata: limits of extracellular matrix geometry for spreading and adhesion

Dirk Lehnert1, Bernhard Wehrle-Haller2, Christian David3, Ulrich Weiland1, Christoph Ballestrem2, Beat A. Imhof2 and Martin Bastmeyer1,*

1 Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitaetstrasse 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
2 Department of Pathology, Centre Medical Universitaire, Geneva, Switzerland
3 Laboratory for Micro- and Nanotechnology, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen-PSI, Switzerland

* Author for correspondence at present address: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Institut für Allgemeine Zoologie, Erbertstrasse 1, 07743 Jena, Germany (e-mail: bastmeyer{at}pan.zoo.uni-jena.de)

Accepted 18 August 2003

Cell adhesion, spreading and migration require the dynamic formation and dispersal of contacts with the extracellular matrix (ECM). In vivo, the number, availability and distribution of ECM binding sites dictate the shape of a cell and determine its mobility. To analyse the geometrical limits of ECM binding sites required for cell attachment and spreading, we used microcontact printing to produce regular patterns of ECM protein dots of defined size separated by nonadhesive regions. Cells cultured on these substrata adhere to and spread on ECM regions as small as 0.1 µm2, when spacing between dots is less than 5 µm. Spacing of 5-25 µm induces a cell to adapt its shape to the ECM pattern. The ability to spread and migrate on dots >=1 µm2 ceases when the dot separation is >=30 µm. The extent of cell spreading is directly correlated to the total substratum coverage with ECM-proteins, but irrespective of the geometrical pattern. An optimal spreading extent is reached at a surface coating above 15%. Knowledge of these geometrical limits is essential for an understanding of cell adhesion and migration, and for the design of artificial surfaces that optimally interact with cells in a living tissue.

Key words: Microcontact printing, Patterned substratum, Focal adhesion, Integrin, Cytoskeleton




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