Fabrication of spatially-patterned cells using selective adhesion on pre-structured fine particles

The application of a neuron network to a bio/micro-sensor has potential as a drug screening device. In this study, micro-structures of surface-modified particles were applied to a scaffold for selective cell adhesion and growth. Silica particles were covered with a specific protein (fibronectin) or multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) by electrostatic adsorption or transfer printing, respectively. They formed spatial patterns in a line-and-space structure tens of micrometers wide on a glass substrate. This paper investigates the effect of the coated material on the selectivity and adhesiveness of PC12 phenochromocytoma cells. An incubation process causes PC12 cells to autonomously align with selective adhesion on the micro-structures of both particles. The cells are minimally adhered to the glass surface around the particles. The structure of the fibronectin-coated particles enables a straight and uniform alignment of adhered cells, while that of bare silica particles causes randomly distributed cells. It was also found that the structure of CNT-adsorbed particles enhances cell adhesiveness to grow pseudopods of adhered cells.