Effect of nano-structured polymer surfaces on osteoblast adhesion and proliferation

Abstract

Controlling cell?matrix interactions in the nanometer size scale is important for regulating cell phenotype in tissue engineering. We hypothesized that adhesion and proliferation of osteoblasts could be influenced by varying the nano-structured surfaces. Poly(styrene-b-ethylene oxide) diblock copolymers were used to generate the nano-structured surfaces. As PS domain size decreased, cell proliferation was enhanced. This approach to controlling cell phenotype by varying the surface structure in the nanometer size scale could be useful for designing novel scaffolds in tissue engineering applications.