Surface patterning.

Cell adhesion, migration and differentiation depend on a complex interaction between a cell and its microenvironment. A three-dimensional (3D) topographic substrate provides an invaluable tool to understand this interaction. Here, we present three distinct techniques to pattern a surface having 2-D and 3-D topographies to study cell behavior. The three methods are electrohydrodynamic instabilities of polymer films, photolithography and self-assembly of homopolymer blends and diblock copolymers. Depending on the technique used, the size scale of the surface pattern can be on the nanometer or micrometer level or both. These methods can easily be utilized in biological laboratories since they do not require the use of a cleanroom facility. We briefly discuss each technique and show its use in cell culture. The 3D topographic substrates are ideal system to understand cell adhesion, migration and differentiation that mimic cells in physiological conditions. The techniques described here have the potential to extend to other materials such as extracellular matrix proteins.