Application of micro-scale technologies in engineering cell geometry and alignment

BACKGROUND: It is of great significance for the research of cell biology, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine to precisely control cell geometry and alignment in vitro. However, there is a lack of systematic study and description of the methods for controlling cell geometry and inducing alignment in vitro. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the methods of surface chemical treatment technology and surface topographical technology to prepare the substrate for cell growth and to discuss the feasibility and the latest progress in cell shape control and cell alignment. METHODS: The author performed a data retrieval of PubMed and Bailianyun databases from 1995 to 2017 to search the articles addressing the effects of micro-scale technologies on cell geometry and alignment in vitro, and reviewed the literatures systematically. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: With the development of micro-scale technologies and in-depth study on cell behaviors, surface chemical treatment, surface topographical transformation and fibrous scaffolds are gradually developed to precisely control cell geometry and alignment. The surface micropatterning, pillar and pit arrays can precisely control cell geometry, and the topographical patterning dominates cell alignment over the chemical patterns. Surface chemical treatment and topographical patterning can also be combined to preferably engineer cell alignment in vitro. The suitable substrate can be used to control cell geometry precisely, regulate the differentiation of stem cells or induce cell alignment, and promote cell fusion and differentiation.