Micropatterned surfaces modified with select peptides promote exclusive interactions with osteoblasts

Microcontact printing techniques were used to pattern circles (diameters 10, 50, 100, and 200 μm) of N1[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]diethylenetriamine (DETA) surrounded by octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) borders on borosilicate glass, a model substrate. The DETA regions were further modified by immobilization of either the cell-adhesive peptides Arginine–Glycine–Aspartic Acid–Serine (RGDS) and Lysine–Arginine–Serine–Arginine (KRSR) or the non-adhesive peptides Arginine–Aspartic Acid–Glycine–Serine (RDGS) and Lysine–Serine–Serine–Arginine (KSSR). After four hours under standard cell culture conditions but in the absence of serum, adhesion of either osteoblasts or fibroblasts on surfaces patterned with the non-adhesive peptides RDGS and KSSR was random and low. In contrast, both osteoblasts and fibroblasts adhered and formed clusters onto circles modified with the adhesive peptide RGDS, whereas only osteoblasts adhered and formed clusters onto the circles modified with KRSR, a peptide that selectively promotes adhesion of osteoblasts. These results provide evidence that patterning of select peptides can direct adhesion of specific cell lines exclusively to predetermined regions on material surfaces.