Control of osteoblast cells adhesion and spreading by microcontact printing of extracellular matrix protein patterns

In this study, we report a simple method for creating extracellular matrix (ECM) protein patterns to control osteoblast cell adhesion and spreading. The fibronectin patterns are directly produced on polystyrene (PS) surfaces by microcontact printing (μCP). Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images show that protein patterns are successfully fabricated on PS surfaces. Newborn rat osteoblast cells are then seeded on these protein patterns and cultured for 4 days. The results demonstrate that osteoblast cells preferentially adhere and grow on the protein areas. The pattern dimensions have significant influences on cell behaviors, including cell adhesion, spreading, distribution, and growth direction. Therefore, it is possible to control the cell morphology and even cell function by carefully designing the pattern shapes and sizes. The present study suggests that the ECM protein patterns can be used to modify biomaterials’ surfaces and spatially control the morphologies of osteoblast cells. We believe that our work could find applications for creating patterned bioactive surfaces to control cell adhesion, spreading and cell function. It may be helpful for the development of novel implantable biomaterials, such as artificial bone implants, where control of interfacial biological interactions between implants and cells would be preferable.