Distortion of f-actin and focal contacts of animal cells upon ordered nanotopography

Animal cells live in a complex and diverse environment where they encounter a vast amount of information. Surface topography that a cell encounters has a role to play in influencing cell behaviour. It has been demonstrated widely that surface shape can directly influence the behaviour of cells. In this paper we discuss the interactions of animal cells with engineered nanotopography fabricated in quartz and reverse embossed into polycaprolactone. Epithelial, fibroblast, and macrophage like cells all show reduced adhesion, to the ordered nano pits and pillars. Here we show that the area of cell spreading upon the nanotopography is reduced compared to that of planar substrate. Furthermore, cytoskeletal organisation is disrupted by way of reduced numbers and organisation of the focal adhesions of the cell populations encountering ordered nanostructured surfaces.