Artificial Nanopatterned Biointerfaces for Medical Applications: an Experimental Study in Nanofabrication for Biomaterials Surface Modification and in Cell-surfaceinteractions

The interactions occurring between biological systems and the surface of biomaterials has been an area of strong research focus for a number of decades. There has been a realisation of the importance of macromolecular interactions and a consequent need to understand biointerfacial events at the nanometer length-scale. A set of tools for working at the nanometer scale are critical for the study, design and evaluation of new biomaterials. In this work colloidal lithography as a versatile nanofabrication route is extended from metals and ceramics for use with organic materials including polymers and proteins. Large area arrays of systematic controlled topographic/chemical/protein nanopatterns are demonstrated. Artificial nanostructured biointerfaces produced by these approaches were used to study the influence of nanoscale surface structures on the behaviour of adherent cells in culture. Significant changes in cellular morphology and cytoskeletal arrangement were observed. The work would be helpful to under/postgraduate students and also professionals in medical/biomaterial industries who are interested in the nano-bio-technology concept