[36, 38], osteoblasts [39], osteoclasts [40], endothelial [41], smooth muscle [42],
epithelial [43, 44], and epitenon cells [45]. A detailed understanding of
nanotopographical surface interaction with precursor cells and their differ-
entiation is essential. In addition to fundamental understanding of
cellnanotopographic surface interactions, the nanotopographies may have
potential applications in various biomedical fields.
10.2 NANOTOPOGRAPHIC SURFACES: FABRICATION TECHNIQUES
Presently, the experiments perfor med on conventional tissue culture polystyr-
ene (TCPS) flat surfaces give an idea of cellsubstrate interaction; however,
they do not simulate the complex ECM topography and dimensions. Earlier
studies have shown the effect of micro- and nanoscaled surface topographies
on cellular functions including morphology, adhesion, motility, proliferation,
and gene regulation [25–35]. Thus, various topographic features namely pores,
ridges, grooves, fibers, nodes, and combinations of these features were created
using a wide range of fabrication techniques [1, 46–54].
Advances in nanotechnology have enabled the fabrication of various
structures in nanodimensions, and such structures vary from thin films to
genetic constructs that are used for building biological molecules. All the
nanofabrication techniques have been focused on two approaches, namely the
top-down and bottom-up. The top-down approach includes lithographic
techniques (e.g., soft, photo, colloidal, and electron beam lithography),
electrospinning, polymer demixing, phase separation, evaporation techniques,
and chemical etching. The bottom-up includes assembly process (supramole-
cular, assembly, monolayer, directed self-assembly), nanoparticle formation,
and probe lithography to name a few. The resulting nanostructures may result
in an ordered surface nanotopography or a ran dom topography that will affect
cellular functions, and thus cells behave according to the surface topography to
which they are exposed. Nanofabrication techniques such as photolithography
and electron beam lithography provide ordered nanotopographic surfaces.
Recently, electrospinning has emerged as a promising technique to create
nanofibers, and these nanofibers, can also be aligned to produce ordered
nanotopographies [54]. Other techniques such as polymer demixing, phase
separation, colloidal lithography, and self-assembly result in random surface
topographies. Random topographies are created spontaneously during the
process of fabrication or processing itself. These structures are randomly
organized, arranged without any control on the geometry and reproducibility.
However, creating these nanotopographic features is simple, inexpensive, and
spontaneous. On the contrary, fabrication of ordered nanotopographic
features requires complex and expensive equipments and sound technical
knowledge. Table 10.1 summarizes various popularly studied nanotopography
fabrication techniques, advantages, shortcomings, and observed changes in
cellular behavior. We will discuss some of the most commonly used
264 BIOMEDICAL NANOSTRUCTURES