Selective cell spreading, proliferation, and orientation on micropatterned gel surfaces

Hydrogel micropatterns of 10 approximately 200 microm in width were introduced during the polymerization of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-propane sulfonic acid sodium salt (NaAMPS) on the surface of polyacrylamide (PAAm) gel. Behaviors of endothelial cells on the micropatterned PNaAMPS/PAAm gel surfaces were studied. Cells selectively proliferate on micropatterned PNaAMPS surface but not on PAAm surface, which requires no modification with any cell adhesive proteins or peptides. We found that decrease of the width of the micropatterns could increase the degree of anisotropic spreading of cells and the degree of cell orientation. These results demonstrated that the topographical micropatterns of hydrogel could control cell behaviors.