Micropatterned Polymer Surfaces and Cellular Response of Dictyostelium

Abstract Gecko inspired adhesives are surfaces with many microscale pillars that form Van der Waals forces with other surfaces. They differ from conventional tape in that adhesion is reversible and has the potential for switchability. These properties make gecko adhesives interesting for various biomedical applications. The two objectives of this project were to investigate the formation of biofilms on such surfaces and how the surfaces affect cell development. The developmental stages of the model organism Dictyostelium discoideum were observed by time lapse photography using light and environmental scanning electron microscopy. This study shows that micropatterned surfaces can be used as a biophysical tool to interfere with multicellular tissue formation in multiple ways.