Cellular Response to Nanoscale Features

This chapter focuses on vitro studies considering cellular interactions with fabricated nanoscale topographies, with an emphasis on the modulation of integrin-mediated cellular adhesion and how nanotopographical modification may influence cellular function. However, little is known on the effects of topographical modification on cellular function or the role of nanoscale features on integrin-mediated activation of adhesion proteins and downstream signaling pathways. An nanoscale features with subcritical dimensions provide no perturbation to focal adhesion formation, yet increase the total surface area over which an adherent cell can establish cell-substratum contacts, effectively increasing integrin-ligand interactions. Interestingly, it is known that directed cellular function can be induced by nanoto-pographical modification in the absence of modified focal adhesion frequency, and that signaling pathways crucial for cellular differentiation can be initiated by a diverse range of nanoscale features. One important outcome of the mounting data relating cell adhesion to nanoscale features is the development of hierarchial multiphase materials for a specific regenerative application.