Intestinal epithelial cell response to crypt-like substrate topography

BIOT 453

Lin Wang, wang.li@neu.edu, Shashi K. Murthy, smurthy@coe.neu.edu, and Rebecca L. Carrier, rebecca@coe.neu.edu. Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave., 342 Snell Engineering Center, Boston, MA 02115
Modification of biomaterial scaffolds used in tissue engineering have traditionally focused more on chemical and mechanical properties than on topography. Microfabrication was used to produce topographic analogs of intestinal basal lamina crypts. A test pattern of micro-wells with dimensions (50-500 μm diameter, 120 μm depth) similar to those of native crypt structures was produced in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). PDMS surfaces were coated with 50 μg/ml fibronectin and seeded with Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells. Cells attached mostly to the bottoms of micro-wells and were able to migrate/proliferate along the steep side walls of well structures. Overall, cells attached better on flat surfaces. Substrate topography also affected viability, with cells on side-walls having greater viability than at the bottom or tops of wells. These studies will aid in understanding the unique role intestinal topography plays in cell development and provide design parameters for a scaffold for tissue engineered intestine to treat intestinal disease.