Reducing Cancer Cell Adhesion using Microtextured Surfaces (Small 49/2023)

Microtextured Surfaces Cell detachment strategies in cell culture processes have primarily relied on enzymatic methods (eg., using trypsin). These approaches are labor intensive, lead to accumulation of genetic mutations, and produce large quantities of liquid waste. In article number 2302401, Yuen-Yi Tseng, Kripa K. Varanasi, and co-workers show that surface texture alone can significantly change cell morphology and adhesion strength. Cancer cells grown on micropost surfaces exhibit much different shapes compared with cells grown on flat surfaces. In addition, microfluidic tests show that cells grown on these microtextures can be detached with much lower forces, which could enable next generation non-enzymatic cell removal techniques.